A quiet tragedy is brewing within the country's leading educational institutions: academic pressure, the race for a career, and social isolation are leading students into states of depression. However, the most alarming fact is that only 9 percent of students experiencing stress and depression decide to seek support or disclose these thoughts to their educational institutions.
The National Task Force (NTF), appointed by the Supreme Court, conducted a nationwide survey that revealed systemic problems in the higher education system. This investigation was initiated following student suicides at IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay and was led by Judge S. Ravindra Bhat.
The survey, which covered over 243 thousand students across the country, established that 15% of respondents admitted to experiencing periods of severe anxiety, deep depression, and self-harm in the last six months. Furthermore, 9% of students reported having suicidal thoughts within the past year. Among those surveyed, 67% were students from SC, ST, and OBC castes, with 34% of them feeling like outsiders or outcasts on campus.
According to the preliminary report of the task force, the problem extends beyond mere academic strain; the atmosphere within the educational institutions themselves plays a significant role. The report noted instances of caste and gender discrimination. Students pointed out that their caste affiliation is determined by ranks in the NEET-UG and JEE exams, as well as discrimination from faculty during admission and grading related to language differences.
The report also features issues of exploitation and moral surveillance: widespread gender harassment in medical and engineering colleges, the application of moral control under the guise of curfews in hostels, and exploitative behavior by PhD supervisors. Additional factors include inhumane work schedules for medical students forced to work on call beyond their capacity, and deadly competition in engineering universities caused by the 'relative grading' system.
The survey also identified a serious deficit in psychological assistance: approximately 32% of educational institutions lack a basic counseling system. Moreover, only 56% of students expressed confidence that the administration would impartially address their serious issues.
The panel, headed by Judge S. Ravindra Bhat, included experts such as psychiatrist Dr. Alok Sarin, Mary I. John, Arman Ali, Rajendra Kacharu, and Professor Seema Mehrotra. The panel has already visited 19 institutions in the Delhi-NCR, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Assam, and West Bengal regions. After a comprehensive analysis of all reports and feedback, the task force will present its final report to the Supreme Court on October 31, 2026, which will contain strict recommendations for protecting student mental health, training faculty, and implementing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).