23 IITs report 45 student suicides in five years; 28 from SC, ST, OBC communities

23 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) recorded 45 student suicides between 2020-21 and 2024-25, with 28 of the deceased students belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) communities. The figures were compiled after collecting information from all IITs in connection with a provisionally admitted Lok Sabha starred question dated December 8, 2025.

The 28 students from SC, ST and OBC communities accounted for more than 62 per cent of the total 45 suicides reported by the IITs over a period of five years. Of these, 12 students were from the OBC community, nine from SC and seven from ST communities.

The data showed that 16 students who died by suicide belonged to the General category, while one was from the Economically Weaker Sections category. The number of reported suicides saw a sharp increase in 2023-24, with 16 deaths recorded by the IITs compared with six in the previous year. 13 student suicides were reported in 2024-25.

Also read IIT Bombay student suicide sparks row over academic stress, caste bias; FIR filed against professor

IIT Hyderabad records highest suicides

IIT Hyderabad has recorded the highest number of student suicides during the five-year period, with seven deaths. IIT Kharagpur, IIT Delhi and IIT Kanpur were next in the list with six deaths each. IIT Madras recorded five suicides, while IIT (BHU)-Varanasi reported four.

Of the 13 students who died by suicide in 2024-25, four were from the OBC category, three from ST, two from SC communities and four students belonged to the general or unreserved category.

Other than 45 suicides, eight unnatural deaths were also recorded across the five-year period. The data was compiled by PTI in connection with the Lok Sabha Provisionally Admitted Starred Diary No. 3682 dated December 8, 2025.

(With PTI Inputs)

If you know someone – friend or family member – at risk of suicide, please reach out to them. Those in distress or having suicidal thoughts or tendencies could seek help and counselling by calling 9820466726 or visiting AASRA’s official website or can call iCALL on 9152987821. Here are some more helpline numbers of suicide prevention organisations that can offer emotional support to individuals and families.