The suicide of a second-year student at IIT Bombay has sparked fresh concerns over student mental health and academic pressure, with Congress leader Pawan Khera questioning whether student welfare is being treated as a priority. Reacting to the incident, Khera in a post on X, highlighted the scale of student suicides and said the latest death at one of India’s premier institutions should prompt a wider reckoning over the pressure faced by students and the gaps in mental-health support.
The student died by suicide after being caught using a mobile phone to upload an examination paper to ChatGPT. IIT Bombay has said that no disciplinary action was taken against him and that he was counselled by his instructor and Head of Department, who told him the incident would not affect his academic career.
The death has nevertheless triggered a protest by students on the Powai campus, with demonstrators demanding the resignation of the institute’s Director.
“Even taking the institute at its word, this tragedy should force a reckoning with the pressure students are under — and how thin mental-health support still is, even at India’s top institutions,” Khera said.
The Congress also cited data on student mental health, saying 1,54,046 college students aged 18–25 contacted Tele-MANAS between October 2022 and October 2025, with 5,642 calls involving suicidal concerns. Pointing to the third reported student suicide at IIT Bombay in six months, he asked, “How many more suicides before student mental health stops being an afterthought for this government?”
IIT Bombay student dies by suicide after being caught using ChatGPT in exam
The deceased student was pursuing his second year in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering. According to the institute, Wakode had uploaded an examination question paper to ChatGPT in an attempt to obtain answers while the test was underway.
IIT Bombay said no disciplinary proceedings had been initiated against him following the incident. The matter was discussed with the student by the examination instructor and the Head of the Department. They counselled him and assured him that the incident would not have an adverse impact on his academic career, the institute said.
After the discussion, Wakode returned to his hostel room. He was subsequently found dead in the room later that evening.
In a statement, IIT Bombay expressed grief over the student’s death and said it was providing support to those affected by the incident.
“The Institute is extending support to the student’s friends, classmates, faculty members, and others affected by this tragic incident,” it said, adding that the circumstances surrounding the death were being examined by the appropriate authorities.
Disclaimer: If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, call Tele-MANAS at 14416 or 1800-89-14416 for assistance.
(With agency inputs)