Lok Sabha Question No. 5919 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-30
Subject: Suicide Cases in PM-SHRI Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Kodikunnil Suresh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5919 ANSWERED ON 30.03.2026

## Suicide Cases in PM-SHRI Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas

5919. Shri Kodikunnil Suresh:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  total  number  of  student  suicide  cases  reported  in  PM  SHRI  Jawahar  Navodaya Vidyalayas during the last five years and the current year, year-wise;
- (b) the details of such cases reported during the said period, school-wise, State/district-wise;
- (c)  whether the Government has conducted any inquiry or investigation into the causes of such incidents including allegations of  ragging, academic pressure, harassment or mental health issues in these residential schools and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  the  details  of  preventive  and  corrective  measures  taken  by  the  Government  and  the Navodaya  Vidyalaya  Samiti  to  address  student  mental  health,  including  appointment  of counsellors,  grievance  redressal  mechanisms,  anti-ragging  measures  and  psychological support systems; and
- (e)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  introduce  a  comprehensive  mental  health  and student safety framework in Navodaya Vidyalayas to prevent such incidents in the future and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

- (a)  to  (e):  As  per  information  received  from  Navodaya  Vidyalaya  Samiti  (NVS),  Year-wise total number of student suicide cases reported in Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVs) during the last five years, as well as the current year, is as under:

| Year   |   Number of suicide cases |
|--------|---------------------------|
| 2021   |                         2 |
| 2022   |                         7 |
| 2023   |                         8 |
| 2024   |                        12 |
| 2025   |                         8 |
| 2026   |                         3 |
| Total  |                        40 |

State  and  district-wise  details  of  suicide  cases  reported  in  NVs  during  the  last  five years, and current year, are annexed .

National  Education  Policy  (NEP),  2020  recognizes  that  Education  must  build character,  enable  learners  to  be  ethical,  rational,  compassionate,  and  caring,  while  at  the same  time  prepare  them  for  gainful and  fulfilling  employment.  Apart  from  cognitive development  aim  is  to  build  character  and  create  holistic  and  well-rounded  individuals equipped  with  the  key  21st  century  skills.  Further  given  the  21st  century  requirements, quality  education  is  being  aimed  to  develop  good,  thoughtful,  well-rounded,  and  creative individuals,  enabling  an  individual  to  study  one  or  more  specialized  areas  of  interest  at  a deep  level,  and  also  develop  character  and  21st  century  capabilities  across  a  range  of disciplines.  NEP  2020  also  stipulates  that  the  development  of  capacities  that  promote student wellness such as fitness, good health, psycho-social well-being, and sound ethical grounding are also critical for  high-quality  learning  and for reducing  mental  pressure. The need  to  integrate  sports  in  education  is  well  recognized  as  it  serves  to  foster  holistic development  by  promoting  physical  and  psychological  well-being  while  also  enhancing cognitive abilities.

National Curriculum Framework for School Education inter-alia suggests a roadmap to  address  the  concerns  related  to  mental  health  guidance  and  counselling  work  for emotional regulation and  positive motivation; incorporating mental  health aspects  in curriculum etc.

Ministry of Education, has launched an initiative, MANODARPAN, under 'AatmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan', with the aim to provide psychosocial support to students, their families and teachers across the country, for mental health and well-being during the times of COVID-19 and beyond. All activities undertaken under the MANODARPAN initiative are  aimed  towards  supporting  the  metal  health  and  well-being  of  students  from  schools, colleges  and  universities,  including  those  students  who  are  preparing  for  competitive examinations.

A  High-Level  meeting  was  held  recently  in  the  Ministry  of  Education  which  was attended  by  a  Senior  Psychologist  and  Principals  of  identified  NVs  where  suicide  cases happened, faculty from NCERT along with officials of NVS to analyse the suicide cases in NVs.

National Centre for School Leadership, NIEPA also conducts capacity development workshops  for  Principals  of  NVs  on  mental  health  and  social  emotional  wellbeing  of students, from time to time.

NVS has conducted fact-finding  inquiries  into  all  such  cases  through  duly  constituted inquiry  committees.  Based  on  the  findings  of  these  committees,  the  major  causes  are  as follows:

- Family-related issues
- Examination and academic pressure
- High levels of ambition / Parental high expectations
- Adolescent behavioural concerns
- Mental health-related issues

In  addition  to  MANODARPAN initiative  of  the  Ministry  of  Education,  the  following provisions are made to address mental health issues among students of NVs:

- Counsellors (one male and one female) are being engaged in each NV.
- Tele-counselling facilities are available for NV students.
- Principals of all NVs  are  authorized  to engage  the  services  of professional counsellors from Government hospitals.
- All  teachers,  performing  loco-parenting  roles  in  NVS,  are  trained  in  guidance  and counselling.
- A  special  5-day  in-service  training  programme  on  guidance  and  counselling  is organized for House Masters (teachers).
- Teachers are also nominated for a one-year Diploma in Guidance and Counselling conducted by NCERT.

A  Task  Force  was  constituted  in  2018  by  the  Ministry  of  Education  to  promote  the psychosocial  well-being  of  NV  students  and  to  strengthen  the  existing  support  system. Based on its recommendations, NVS has undertaken the following initiatives:

- A toll-free helpline has been established for NV students to express their concerns, manage  examination-related  stress,  and  support  their  emotional  health  and  wellbeing.
- The 'Happy Hours' concept has been introduced in all  NVs to encourage positive interactions, sharing of humour, and other engaging activities, enabling students to end their day on a positive note and begin the next day with hope, happiness, and optimism.
- Every year, NVS nominates 50-60 NV teachers for a one-year Diploma Course in Guidance and Counselling conducted by NCERT.

*****

ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  to  (e)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  5919  ANSWERED  ON  30.03.2026  RAISED  BY  SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH, HON'BLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT REGARDING  SUICIDE CASES IN PM-SHRI JAWAHAR NAVODAYA VIDYALAYAS

## State and district-wise details of suicide cases reported in NVs during the last five years, and current year

|   S. No. | State              | NV (District)      |
|----------|--------------------|--------------------|
|        1 | Andhra Pradesh     | Nellore            |
|        2 | Assam              | Cachar             |
|        3 | Assam              | West Karbi Anglong |
|        4 | Bihar              | Darbhanga          |
|        5 | Bihar              | Purnea             |
|        6 | Bihar              | Saran              |
|        7 | Chhattisgarh       | Dantewada          |
|        8 | Chhattisgarh       | Rajnandgaon        |
|        9 | Daman and Diu (UT) | Daman              |
|       10 | Haryana            | Kaithal            |
|       11 | Haryana            | Sonipat            |
|       12 | Himachal Pradesh   | Bilaspur           |
|       13 | Jharkhand          | Bokaro             |
|       14 | Jharkhand          | Deoghar            |
|       15 | Jharkhand          | Dumka              |
|       16 | Jharkhand          | Giridih            |
|       17 | Jharkhand          | Gumla              |
|       18 | Karnataka          | Bellary            |
|       19 | Karnataka          | Bidar              |
|       20 | Karnataka          | Chitradurga        |
|       21 | Kerala             | Alappuzha          |
|       22 | Kerala             | Alappuzha          |
|       23 | Kerala             | Malappuram         |
|       24 | Madhya Pradesh     | Anuppur            |
|       25 | Madhya Pradesh     | Bhind              |
|       26 | Madhya Pradesh     | Khandwa            |
|       27 | Madhya Pradesh     | Ratlam-I           |
|       28 | Madhya Pradesh     | Tikamgarh          |
|       29 | Maharashtra        | Solapur            |
|       30 | Odisha             | Bhadrak            |
|       31 | Odisha             | Gajapati           |
|       32 | Punjab             | Fatehgarh Sahib    |
|       33 | Punjab             | Mohali             |
|       34 | Rajasthan          | Banswara-I         |
|       35 | Rajasthan          | Jaipur             |
|       36 | Rajasthan          | Sikar              |
|       37 | Uttar Pradesh      | Jhansi             |
|       38 | Uttar Pradesh      | Moradabad          |
|       39 | Uttar Pradesh      | Pilibhit           |
|       40 | West Bengal        | Birbhum            |