Student suicide row: IIT Bombay to hire 30 counsellors amid mental health concerns

IIT Bombay has invited applications for 30 ad hoc counsellor posts at its Student Wellness Centre following protests over the death by suicide of second-year BTech student Sahil Wakode. The recruitment has renewed focus on campus mental health support and student welfare.IIT Bombay counsellor recruitment: Applications invited for 30 posts amid mental health concerns (File photo)New Delhi,Oct 12, 2026 11:53 ISTThe Indian Institute of Technology, IIT, Bombay has invited applications for 30 ad hoc counsellor positions, offering monthly salaries of up to Rs 1.6 lakh for senior counsellors, amid renewed scrutiny of student mental health support following the BTech student Sahil Wakode's death by suicide.The institute’s Student Wellness Centre (SWC) is recruiting 26 student counsellors and four senior counsellors, with selected candidates eligible to join from October 15, 2026. The recruitment drive comes amid demands for stronger mental health support on campus following student protests over the death of Sahil Wakode.30 COUNSELLOR POSTS: ELIGIBILITY, SALARY AND APPLICATION DETAILSAs per the recruitment notice, candidates for student counsellor posts must hold an MA or MSc in Psychology, specialising in clinical, counselling or social psychology, with at least 55 per cent marks or an equivalent grade from a recognised institution.Applicants must have at least two years of relevant post-qualification experience in an academic or medical institution. Candidates applying for the four senior counsellor positions must have a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience. The positions are available on a full-time basis (40 hours per week) or a part-time basis (20 hours per week). Candidates must specify their preferred arrangement while applying.Full-time student counsellors will receive a monthly consolidated salary of Rs 70,000 to Rs 1 lakh, depending on experience, while senior counsellors will earn between Rs 1.4 lakh and Rs 1.6 lakh. Part-time candidates will receive half the corresponding full-time remuneration. Appointments will initially be for 89 days, with the possibility of extension to a long-term position based on performance. Applications must be submitted by October 17, while interviews are scheduled between October 12 and 18.EXPERIENCE WITH YOUNG ADULTS AND CRISIS CASES PREFERREDIIT Bombay will prefer candidates with experience working with adolescents, young adults, residential academic institutions and crisis cases. Proficiency in additional Indian languages will be an advantage, with the selection committee also considering linguistic and gender diversity.Selected counsellors will handle student counselling, appointments, follow-ups, referrals and regular supervision sessions. Optional single-room hostel accommodation may be provided to at least 10 counsellors, with applicants required to indicate their preference while applying.STUDENT PROTESTS PUT MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT UNDER SCRUTINYThe decision to recruit 30 counsellors comes amid growing concerns over student mental health at IIT Bombay, following the death by suicide of 22-year-old Sahil Wakode. He reportedly died hours after being found using his phone during a mid-semester examination.The incident led to protests on campus, with students demanding better mental health support and raising concerns over a series of student deaths in the past year.Students also submitted a list of demands to institute Director, Professor Shireesh Kedare, calling for expanded counselling services. They pointed out that the existing infrastructure was inadequate to cater to nearly 14,000 undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students.Following the protests, IIT Bombay announced several measures to strengthen student welfare. These include appointing an additional associate dean under the Dean of Student Affairs and plans to introduce student wellness secretaries in hostels.The institute’s Student Wellness Centre provides counselling to undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD students, focusing on their emotional and psychological well-being. The proposed recruitment is expected to expand the centre’s capacity and improve access to mental health support across the campus.- Ends