UGC asks HEIs to prioritise mental health surveys in SC-mandated task force initiative

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has urged the higher educational institutions (HEIs) to participate in the surveys on student mental health and wellbeing through the newly launched National Task Force portal. The NTF was set up following a Supreme Court directive to address the alarming rise in suicides in colleges and universities.

In line with the Supreme Court order in Amit Kumar & Ors Vs Union of India & Ors criminal appeal dated March 24, 2025, a National Task Force was constituted. The official website for the NTF — ntf.education.gov.in — was launched on August 8. Former judge of the Supreme Court Justice S Ravindra Bhat is the chairperson of the 12-member team.

“The National Task Force comprises of representatives from diverse fields to ensure and interdisciplinary approach to tackling the issue of Mental Health Concerns and commission of suicides in Educational Institutions,” the official website read.

The objective of this task force is to identify the predominant causes that lead to student suicides , analyse existing regulations, and recommend measures to prevent them.

Supreme Court issues pan-India guidelines

In July, the top court again issued a pan-India guidelines to prevent student suicides and made it mandatory for all institutes to implement mental health policy. The bench has directed the Centre to file a compliance report within 90 days detailing the steps taken to implement these guidelines and the monitoring systems put in place.

The Supreme Court will take up the matter again on October 27.

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In this regard, the UGC said the NTF portal is a central platform to gather diverse perspectives from college students, parents, faculty members, mental health service providers, and institutional representatives.

The portal also hosts structured online surveys and questionnaires both in English and Hindi.

It is designed to collect anonymous and confidential inputs on a wide range of themes, including campus environment; inclusivity and belongingness; sources of distress and systemic discrimination; existing support and grievance redressal mechanism; and suggestions for improving student wellbeing.

The UGC requested the educational institutions to give “priority and wide publicity” to encourage greater participation.