The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are acclaimed for their academic excellence, yet beneath their reputation lies a troubling reality: a high rate of student suicides.
Data from the Union Ministry of Education reveals that 33 of 98 suicides in top higher education institutions over the past five years occurred at IITs. Disturbingly, 18 of 34 suicides between 2014 and 2021 involved students from Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes.
In 2021, the education ministry reported to the Rajya Sabha that 63 per cent of undergraduate dropouts from the top seven IITs were from these marginalised groups. This crisis, driven by overwhelming academic pressure and compounded by social issues, demands urgent and comprehensive solutions.
A survey at IIT Bombay showed a mean score of just 3.34 on the Oxford Happiness Scale out of 10, reflecting low happiness and high-stress levels. A 2019-2020 survey by the Board of Student Publications at IIT Delhi, which was later withdrawn due to administrative backlash, highlighted severe psychological impacts and the prevalence of caste-based discrimination, further illustrating the need for systemic change.
The findings are not isolated. In my own experience as an alumnus of IIT Guwahati, between 2022 and 2023, at least three students ended their lives in their rooms. The lack of substantial response from the administration was disheartening. The primary reasons cited were academic pressure and the inability to clear backlogs. This situation is reflective of a systemic issue that transcends individual campuses.
A recent survey I conducted among students from IIT Guwahati, IIT Bombay, and IIT Delhi underscores the severity of the problem. Among the respondents, 37.3 per cent rated academic stress at 4 on a scale of 5, and 58.8 per cent reported feeling overwhelmed by the pressure.
Furthermore, 30.6 per cent felt uncomfortable sharing their academic problems with peers or teachers, and 81.6 per cent had never sought professional counselling. Of the 18.6 per cent who did, 81.4 per cent found it unhelpful. These statistics reveal a profound gap in the mental health support system within IITs.
The reasons for this gap are manifold. First, the persistence of caste issues makes students from backward castes feel alienated and reluctant to seek help. Second, the inexperience of counsellors, coupled with a lack of faculty training in handling academic stress, exacerbates the problem. A survey of faculty members across the same IITs found that 70 per cent felt ill-equipped to address mental health issues, and 90 per cent lacked proper training to support students with such concerns.
Students have voiced concerns highlighting these systemic issues. One student mentioned that faculty members expect students to work on multiple projects and consultancy services without adequate guidance, prioritising quantity over quality. Another pointed out that many students come from high-pressure coaching centres like Kota in Rajasthan, bringing pre-existing mental health issues to IITs. This exacerbates their struggles, leading to severe consequences, including suicides, as seen in IIT Guwahati.
One student recounted, "Two suicides happened on the same day in April this year. One was my batchmate who jumped off a bridge, and another first-year student from my hostel hanged himself. My batchmate’s case still hasn't been labelled as suicide since the body hasn't been found. It is still a missing case."
The sense of loneliness is also pervasive, especially among marginalised students who do not fit into formal clubs or community spaces, leading to alienation and diminished self-confidence. This isolation is detrimental to mental health, as one student described the campus as feeling like a "labour camp”.
The competitive environment fosters self-isolation, making academic success seem more attainable but at the cost of mental well-being. The quality of mental health services at IITs has also come under scrutiny. One student from IIT Hyderabad who attended a weekly webinar by the mental health cell, said the counsellor was unprofessional and biased, a problem that seems widespread across IITs.
Respondents also criticised the institutional response to student suicides for being impersonal and insensitive, reducing students to mere statistics in generic condolence emails.
Academic pressure is further compounded by structural issues within courses. One student noted that libraries being open 24/7 during exams indirectly pressures students to study constantly, fostering unhealthy competition. Another highlighted that some courses intentionally make it difficult to manage large enrolments, causing additional stress.
Addressing the crisis of student suicides in IITs requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders to foster a supportive, inclusive, and stress-free environment. Essential measures include increasing the number of professional counsellors, training faculty and staff to recognise and support mental distress, and establishing peer support networks.
Academic pressure can be alleviated by introducing flexible curricula, continuous assessment methods, and structured support for managing backlogs. Addressing social and caste discrimination through strict anti-discrimination policies, cultural sensitivity training, and support groups for marginalised students is crucial.
Enhancing campus life through diverse extracurricular activities, community-building initiatives, and robust student feedback mechanisms will also help. Improving institutional responses with sensitive communication, crisis intervention teams, and long-term support plans is vital.
By implementing these measures, IITs can transform into nurturing environments that prioritise the holistic well-being of their students, ensuring that they thrive intellectually and emotionally. The future of countless bright minds depends on it.
The writer is a Research Associate at Pune International Centre.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.
