IIT Delhi has seen 8 student suicides since 2023. What went wrong?

Since 2023, eight students at IIT Delhi have tragically taken their own lives, drawing attention to the immense stress faced by the young scholars. The latest death was that of Rishikesh, who jumped from the sixth floor of a campus building on Saturday. His passing has ignited protests on campus, with students demanding that a Dean and Associate Deans resign, an independent inquiry be conducted, and compensation for his family.

Anil Kumar, a 21-year-old final-year B.Tech student, was found dead in his hostel room on September 1, 2023, after failing to clear some exams and accumulating a deficit of credits. Ayush Ashna, a 20-year-old also in his final year, was found hanging in the Udaigiri hostel after reportedly struggling with exam results and refusing to discuss his situation.

Pranav Jain, a fourth-year B.Tech student, was found hanging at his home after battling depression for months. The tragic events have prompted IIT Delhi to establish an External Inquiry Committee, comprising esteemed members like the Vice-Chancellor of the Sports University of Haryana and a head of the Department of Psychiatry at AIIMS, to investigate the factors leading to these student suicides.