The Ministry of Education has constituted a three-member committee to examine recent incidents of student suicides at the Indian Institute of Technology, IIT Kanpur. The Ministry has taken cognisance of the recent incident of student suicide and reiterated that student mental health and emotional well-being remain its highest priority. The committee has been asked to submit its report within fifteen days.

 

In an order issued today, the Ministry recalled that it had notified the Framework Guidelines for Emotional and Mental Wellbeing of Students in Higher Education Institutions in July 2023 to create an inclusive and supportive campus environment across the country. The guidelines emphasise faculty sensitisation, student counselling and handholding, early detection of stress, institutional SOPs for suicide prevention, and buddy-mentor systems.

 

The committee will assess compliance with the 2023 framework, examine the circumstances surrounding student suicide cases, identify gaps in institutional support systems, and recommend measures to strengthen mental health and well-being mechanisms.