Recent student deaths at IIT Delhi, IISc, IIT Bombay, IIT Kanpur and IIT Kharagpur have triggered fresh questions about campus safety and student suicides. As students protest, a look at the government’s mental health measures, institutional safeguards and the latest NCRB data shows what has changed, what remains unfinished and where gaps persist.
Recent student deaths at IIT Delhi, IISc, IIT Bombay, IIT Kanpur and IIT Kharagpur have triggered fresh questions about campus safety and student suicides. (AI-generated image)
Students at IIT Delhi boycotted classes and protested on August 24, days after the death of a 31-year-old MSc Physics student on campus. They demanded an independent inquiry, accountability and changes in how student welfare and mental health concerns are handled. The institute has now ordered an external enquiry and formed a 5-member committee to look into the matter.
The death was the second such case reported at IIT Delhi since March 2026. In March, a 19-year-old first-year BTech student was found dead in an apartment on the campus.
The same month, another premier research institution, IISc Bengaluru, was dealing with two student deaths within 15 days. A 19-year-old BTech student died in early August, followed by the death of a 22-year-old MTech student on August 20. Police have indicated personal or relationship-related issues in the two cases, rather than assuming academic pressure as the cause.
And this is not limited to Delhi or Bengaluru.
THE LAST YEAR HAS SEEN REPEATED DEATHS AT PREMIER INSTITUTES A review of reported cases from the past year shows a disturbing pattern across IIT campuses.
At IIT Kanpur, a final-year BTech student died in December 2025, followed less than a month later by the death of a PhD scholar. The latter case triggered a student protest, with students questioning the availability and effectiveness of counselling and demanding greater accountability.
At IIT Bombay, a 21-year-old BTech student died in February 2026, while another 20-year-old student died in July. Police investigations in the two cases were examining different personal circumstances.
At IIT Kharagpur, two students died within 10 days in April 2026. The institute had recorded several student deaths over the preceding 15 months, prompting renewed scrutiny of its support systems.
These cases do not establish a single cause. That distinction matters. Police investigations and institutional inquiries have pointed to different circumstances, including personal
Read More