New Delhi: As protests over the NEET paper leak continue across the country, with student groups and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, official data has highlighted the growing mental health crisis among students.
According to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report, student suicides have increased significantly over the past decade. The number rose from 8,068 cases in 2014 to 14,488 in 2024, marking an increase of nearly 80 percent. In total, more than 1.23 lakh students died by suicide between 2014 and 2024.
The data shows that, on average, around 40 students died by suicide every day in 2024.
The issue gained further attention after the cancellation of the NEET examination and allegations of paper leaks, which led to nationwide protests and activist Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike demanding accountability and reforms in the examination system.
The Ministry of Education informed Parliament that student suicides are caused by multiple factors, including academic pressure, mental health problems, family issues, financial difficulties, and personal conflicts.
NCRB data also reveals that failure in examinations remained one of the major reasons behind student suicides. Between 2014 and 2024, nearly 21 percent of all student suicide cases were linked to examination failure, with more than 25,000 students losing their lives during the period.
More than 2,000 students died every year due to examination failure, except in 2021. Among these cases, 55 percent were below the age of 18, while another 42 percent were between 18 and 30 years.
State-wise figures show that Maharashtra recorded the highest number of student suicides during the decade, followed by Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh. Maharashtra also reported the highest number of suicides linked to examination failure, with over 4,200 cases recorded during the same period.
The Education Ministry further informed Parliament that its Manodarpan mental health helpline, launched in July 2020, has received more than 3.32 lakh calls from students and families across the country as of March 2026.
