At least 53 students died across the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) between 2020-21 and 2024-25, with more than half of the deaths involving students from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC).
The figures, based on information submitted by IITs to the Union education ministry, include 45 suicides and eight unnatural deaths. Together, SC, ST and OBC students accounted for 29 deaths, or 54.7% of the total.
The data also shows a sharp rise in student deaths during the final two years of the five-year period.
Student Deaths Rose Sharply in 2023-24, 2024-25
IITs reported five student deaths in 2020-21 and six each in 2021-22 and 2022-23.
The number rose substantially to 17 deaths in 2023-24 and further to 19 in 2024-25.
Suicides accounted for 84.9% of all reported deaths during the five-year period. Of the 19 deaths recorded in 2024-25, six were classified as unnatural deaths.
The figures indicate that the increase was particularly pronounced in the final two years, when deaths among students from SC, ST and OBC categories also increased.
Category-Wise Breakdown
General category students accounted for 23 deaths, or 43.4% of the total.
The breakdown was:
- General: 23 deaths (43.4%)
- OBC: 12 deaths (22.6%)
- SC: 10 deaths (18.9%)
- ST: 7 deaths (13.2%)
- EWS: 1 death (1.9%)
Among the 23 general category deaths, seven were classified as unnatural.
All 12 OBC deaths, all seven ST deaths and the lone EWS death were reported as suicides. Nine of the 10 deaths among SC students were classified as suicides.
Which IITs Reported the Most Deaths?
IIT Kharagpur, IIT Delhi and IIT Hyderabad recorded the highest number of student deaths, with seven each during the five-year period.
IIT Kanpur and IIT (BHU) Varanasi recorded six deaths each, while IIT Madras reported five.
Looking specifically at suicides, IIT Hyderabad recorded seven, followed by IIT Kharagpur, IIT Delhi and IIT Kanpur with six each.
IIT (BHU) Varanasi and IIT Patna recorded the highest number of unnatural deaths, with two each.
Deaths Among Marginalised Groups Also Increased
The data shows that deaths among OBC, SC and ST students increased from 2023-24 onwards.
Their combined death count stood at five in 2020-21, fell to two in 2021-22 and stood at three in 2022-23. It then increased to nine in 2023-24 and 10 in 2024-25.
Of the 23 general category deaths, 13 were reported from IIT Kharagpur, IIT (BHU) Varanasi and IIT Delhi.
Seven of the 12 OBC deaths occurred at IIT Roorkee, IIT Delhi and IIT Madras, while six of the 10 SC deaths were reported from IIT Hyderabad and IIT Delhi.
Academic Pressure, Isolation Among Concerns
Academics and faculty members cited by Hindustan Times attributed the rise in student suicides to a combination of factors, including academic pressure, social isolation, limited faculty-student engagement and structural issues related to inclusion.
Prof V Ramgopal Rao, vice chancellor of BITS Pilani and former director of IIT Delhi, said the issue goes beyond simply increasing the number of counsellors.
He pointed to factors including relative grading, academic pressure, isolation, limited interaction with faculty and anxiety over employment prospects. He argued that institutions need to focus more on prevention and integrate wellbeing into campus life.
IITs Had 108 Counsellors Across 23 Campuses
According to official data, IITs had 108 counsellors across 23 campuses as of December 1, 2025.
The figures come amid renewed attention to student wellbeing and support systems at premier educational institutions.
Earlier, the Union education ministry had informed Parliament in July 2023 that 39 students died by suicide across IITs between 2018 and 2023.
The latest data submitted by the IITs covers a subsequent five-year period and includes both suicides and other unnatural deaths.
The figures underline the continuing need for institutions to monitor student wellbeing, strengthen preventive support systems and address academic, social and inclusion-related pressures faced by students.
