IIT student suicide: Startling figures emerge as over 8000 students drop out from prestigious IITs between 2019 and 2023, raising concerns about the education system and student well-being.

Alarming Student Suicides

The data issued by the Education Ministry in the Rajya Sabha showed that 39 students from various higher education institutions, including IITs, NITs, and central universities, have succumbed to suicide since 2018, prompting discussions on mental health support.

Breakdown of Suicides by Institution

The data shows that IITs have witnessed the highest number of student suicides (39), followed by NITs (25), central universities (25), IIMs (4), IISERs (3), and IIITs (2), underlining the urgent need for comprehensive support systems.

Year-Wise Suicides

A chilling analysis of the data revealed that the tragic trend has been ongoing, with 2023 reporting 20 student suicides so far, followed by 24 in 2022, seven each in 2021 and 2020, 19 in 2019, and 21 in 2018.

Underlying Causes of Suicides

Minister Subhas Sarkar highlighted that student suicides were attributed to various factors, including professional pressures, feelings of isolation, family issues, violence, and mental health disorders, necessitating a holistic approach to address these issues.

Alarming Dropout Figures

Over 32,000 students have dropped out of higher education institutions, sparking concern about the accessibility and support structures in these institutes.

Breakdown of Dropout Data

Central universities top the list with 17,454 dropouts, followed by IITs (8,139), NITs (5,623), IISER (1,046), IIMs (858), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (803), and Schools of Planning and Architecture (112), shedding light on the areas that demand immediate attention.

Disparity in Dropout Rates

Worryingly, more than half of the dropouts hail from marginalized backgrounds, including Scheduled Castes (4,423), Scheduled Tribes (3,774), and Other Backward Classes (8,602), emphasizing the need to bridge the educational gap and support these students.

Postgraduate Programs Affected

Most of the dropouts are in postgraduate and PhD programs, indicating the pressing need for tailored support and mentorship to ensure academic success.

The Education Ministry and institutions must take immediate action to address these concerning trends, focusing on student mental health, academic support, and fostering inclusive environments for success in higher education.