When institutional safeguards fail

Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) activists protest to demand a quick and fair investigation into the death of IIT-Bombay student Sahil Wakode, outside the IIT-B Powai campus, in Mumbai, Maharashtra. File. | Photo Credit: PTI The recent case at IIT Bombay involving alleged caste discrimination in connection with a student’s death has renewed concerns about such incidents across higher educational institutions in India. Viewing these incidents solely through the lens of a student’s personal circumstances is likely to obscure the prevalence of caste-based discrimination and the role of an unsupportive campus environment in contributing to psychological distress.Recognising that student suicides raise concerns beyond immediate cases, the Supreme Court constituted a National Task Force (NTF) in 2025 to examine existing institutional mechanisms for mental health support in higher educational institutions. Published - November 16, 2026 01:01 am IST