India’s top engineering institutes like the IITs represent academic excellence, but they also place intense pressure on students. The race to succeed often overshadows emotional wellbeing. For many young minds, ambition slowly turns into a silent mental health struggle.
A recent post by Indian Tech & Infra revealed a disturbing trend. Around 30 percent of student suicides reported across IITs in the last two years occurred at IIT Kanpur alone. RTI data and alumni inputs confirm nine deaths there, out of nearly 30 across IITs.
This is part of a larger pattern. Between 2021 and 2025, about 65 suicides were reported across IIT campuses. Academic stress remains the biggest trigger, linked to 61 percent of cases, followed by job pressure and family expectations.
At IIT Kanpur, PhD scholars face added strain due to uncertain completion timelines and strict supervision. Many also experience isolation. Surveys indicate nearly 80 percent report anxiety, yet few approach campus counselling services due to trust concerns.
Rigid academic culture, harassment complaints, and weak mental health monitoring further worsen the situation. Despite government guidelines, implementation on campuses remains limited. Students continue to feel unsupported during critical phases of their academic journey.
There is an urgent need for structural reform within IITs. Better counselling access, stronger faculty accountability, and reduced academic hostility are essential. These institutions must ensure that excellence does not come at the cost of young lives.
