Student Suicides: NTF conducts field visits across 30 HEIs in 10 states with an inclusive approach
Vaishnavi Shukla | June 30, 2026 | 04:57 PM IST | 1 min read
The task force conducted 25 stakeholder consultations, ensuring fair and equal participation on themes such as caste discrimination, mental health and suicides, gender equality in HEIs, among others
The National Task Force (NTF) on mental health and prevention of student suicides has conducted field visits in 30 higher education institutions (HEIs) across 10 states since May 2025 last year. The task force has also conducted 25 stakeholder consultations, ensuring an interdisciplinary and equal approach.
The NTF on mental health was set up by the Supreme Court last year following the suicides of two Dalit students at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. After submitting its interim report last year, the SC issued a series of directions in 2026 based on its recommendations.
In an order dated May 27, 2026, the apex court allowed NTF time till October 31, 2026 to submit its final report. In compliance with the SC order dated February 6, 2026, former chief statistician of India, T C A Anant was appointed as a technical consultant to the task force to conduct a comprehensive and scientific analysis of survey data.
Also read Student Suicides: NTF interim report flags impact of NEET, JEE-type exams on mental health
NTF’s consultation based on several themes
According to the official PIB press release, since January 2026, NTF has completed additional consultations on the following themes:
- Students and faculty with disabilities
- Caste discrimination in higher education
- Gender, mental health and suicides
- Students from ST and OBC communities
- Mental health and decriminalization of suicide
- Gender question in student suicides
- Consultations with mental health NGOs
- Consultation with law students
The task force's main responsibilities have three key components: identification of the causes that lead to student suicides and an analysis of relevant laws, policies, and institutional frameworks. Lastly, proposing reforms to strengthen enforcement and accountability, fix gaps in current systems, create a more inclusive campus, and ensure equal opportunities for all students, especially marginalised groups.
Follow us for the latest education news on colleges and universities, admission, courses, exams, research, education policies, study abroad and more..
To get in touch, write to us at news@careers360.com.
Next Story
]UK, US opportunities shrink but 1.2 lakh Indian MBBS still lost to them; Australia, Germany, Middle East gain
USMLE, PLAB exam routes tougher now but thousands of Indian doctors still in practice or training in US, UK; medical graduates going to OECD countries has risen 76% in 20 years
Musab Qazi | 1 min readFeatured News
]- Over 1,000 KGBVs without functioning ICT labs; over 400 KVs are short of computers: Education ministry data
- Beyond Textbooks: How simulation labs in Tamil Nadu medical colleges are reshaping MBBS training
- West Bengal schools plan to reduce teaching days, adopt ‘weekly rosters’ as Census worsens teacher shortage
- ‘Affects 200’: CUET PG candidates question TISS’ normalisation formula; ‘ensures fairness,’ says institute
- VBSA Bill: Exemption to IITs ‘not desirable’; scrap deemed-university tag, plan separate funding, says panel
- ‘At Regulatory Crossroads’: Psychology courses caught in UGC, NCAHP, RCI tangle, causing confusion
- NMC drafts rules to sideline states on medical college approvals, gets tougher on infrastructure norms
- SRM Medical College bets on AI, interdisciplinary learning to make students tech-savvy, research-driven: Dean
- From IIT Madras to Kharagpur: Why top engineering colleges are now teaching biomedical sciences
- VBSA Bill: Joint Parliamentary Committee to finalise, adopt draft report on July 17