Lok Sabha Question No. 1485 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-09
Subject: Dropout and Suicide Rate in IITs/NITs/IIMs
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri K Radhakrishnan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1485

ANSWERED ON 09/02/2026

## Dropout and Suicide Rate in IITs/NITs/IIMs

1485. Shri K Radhakrishnan:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that many Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT's), National Institutes of Technology  (NIT's),  Indian  Institutes  of  Management  (IIM's)  and  Central  Universities  have reported an exponential increase in the student dropout and suicide rates;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  of  dropouts  and  suicide  rate  in  each  IIT's,  NIT's,  IIM's  and  Central Universities separately during the last five years, year-wise;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  is  considering  to  conduct  any  enquiry  on  the  context  of  this increased dropout rates and suicide rates in the national institutions; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

(Dr. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)

- (a)  to  (d):  In  the  Higher  Education  sector,  students  have  multiple options  and they choose and migrate from one course or programme or institute/university to another, as such there is no concept of Drop Out in Higher Education.

National crime Record Bureau (NCRB) collects data on suicides from police recorded suicide cases. Comprehensive analysis of the data related to the accidental deaths and suicides in the country is published in the yearly Accidental Death & Suicide in India (ADSI) reports by National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB). Year wise and State wise details of student suicides are  available  in  the  ADSI  reports  which  are  accessible  at  https://ncrb.gov.in/accidentaldeaths-suicides-in-india-year-wise.html.

As far as the Central Government is concerned; to address the issue of suicide, it is taking multi-pronged  measures  and  provides  psychological  support  to  students,  teachers  and families for mental and emotional well-being to avoid incidences of suicide.

An initiative  of  Ministry  of  Education,  MANODARPAN,  covers  a  wide  range  of  activities  to provide  psychological  support  to  students,  teachers  and  families  for  mental  and  emotional well-being such as National toll-free helpline to provide guidance to callers through trained counsellor; live interactive sessions 'Sahyog' and Webinars 'Paricharcha' that are organized regularly to create awareness about the importance of mental health among all stakeholders, students in all States/UTs etc. These sessions are telecast on PM e-Vidya channels and are also available on 'NCERT Official' YouTube Channel.

UGC  has  issued  advisory  to  HEIs  in  January,  2023  circulating  the  National  Suicide Prevention Strategy framed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. UGC also issued Guidelines for Promotion of Physical Fitness, Sports, Student's Health, Welfare, Psychological and Emotional Well- being at HEIs on 13.04.2023.

The Ministry of Education in July, 2023 has circulated a broad framework for emotional and mental  well-being  of  students  in  Higher  Education  Institutes  (HEIs)  with  request  to  take proactive measures to incorporate the same in the institutional functioning and instil a feeling of confidence in the student community. Accordingly, IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Gandhinagar  and  IIT  Roorkee  have  conducted  workshops  on  Mental  Wellness  &  Stress Management.

Integrated approach for Promoting Positive Mental Health, Resilience, and Wellbeing under the Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme was started. It comprises online and inperson sessions, visits to institutions with innovative mental health practices, and an Annual National  Wellbeing  Conclave.  The  goal  is  to  empower  faculty  to  address  student  mental health concerns by early intervention.

To address the issue of mental health, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare(MHFW) is implementing  National  Mental  Health  Programme  (NMHP)  in  the  country,  which  include outpatient  services,  assessment,  counselling/  psycho-social  interventions,  continuing  care and support to persons with severe mental disorders, drugs, outreach services, ambulance services etc at Community Health Centre(CHC) and Primary Health Centre(PHC) levels. In addition,  the  Government  is  also  taking  steps  to  strengthen  mental  healthcare  services  at primary  healthcare  level.  The  Government  has  upgraded  more  than  1.81  lakh  Sub  Health Centres (SHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. Mental health services have been added in the packages of services under Comprehensive Primary Health Care provided at these Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.

A National Tele Mental Health Programme has been launched in 2022, to improve access to quality  mental  health  counselling  and  care  services  in  the  country.  As  on  02.02.2026,  36 States/  UTs have set up 53 Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (MANAS) Cells. More than 32,83,000 calls have been handled on the helpline number. The Government has also launched Tele MANAS Mobile Application, which is a comprehensive mobile platform that has been developed to provide support for mental health issues ranging from  wellbeing  to  mental  disorders.  In  addition,  a  video  consultation  facility  has  been introduced under Tele-MANAS, as an upgrade to the existing audio calling service.

The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 decriminalizes the suicide under Section 115, recognizing it as  a  manifestation  of  severe  stress  further  mandating  the  government's  responsibility  to provide care, treatment and rehabilitation to the person who attempts suicide.

In pursuance of Order dated 24.03.2025 of Hon'ble Supreme Court in Criminal Appeal No. 1425 of 2025 in the matter of Amit Kumar & Ors Vs. Union of India & Ors., a National Task Force  (NTF)  has  been  constituted  under  the  Chairmanship  of  Justice  (Retd.)  S.  Ravindra Bhat, Former Judge, SCI to identify predominant causes of suicides by students, analyze of existing regulations and suggest recommendations for strengthening students' protection.