Indian youths’ suicide problem: SC task force to collect report from universities by May 28

With a significant rise in student suicides across universities and national-level institutions in the country, the Supreme Court recently  took serious note of the matter. 

On Monday , a NEET female aspirant from Jammu and Kashmir allegedly hanged herself at a paying guest facility in Rajasthan’s Kota on Monday, marking this year’s 15th such incident.

In March 2025, the apex court has set up a national task force headed by its former judge Justice S Ravindra Bhat to address students’ mental health concerns and prevent suicides in higher educational institutions. 

The 10-member task force has been formed under the leadership of Justice Bhat including experts from various fields.

In response to the task force’s request, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has sought detailed data from all universities and colleges regarding the measures taken for students’ mental health and the availability of counselors.

Universities and colleges have been instructed to treat the matter with urgency and submit their reports by May 28.

Following the Supreme Court’s directive, the task force has asked for information related to students’ mental and physical health, prompting UGC to issue a circular to all higher education institutions. This circular mandates the submission of data including:

-Steps taken to ensure students’ mental well-being,

-The number of functioning counselors,

-The student-to-counselor ratio,

- Counselors’ qualifications.

Additionally, higher education institutions have been asked to provide details about Equal Opportunity Centres, complaints received under the UGC’s Promotion of Equity Regulations, and the actions taken to address those complaints.

Universities have also been ordered to inform their affiliated colleges through circulars about this requirement. All universities and colleges are expected to give top priority to this matter and submit all required data online by May 28.