Student Suicides and Mental Health Crisis in India
Social Justice & Development
- PYQs7
- Articles1
Background
Addresses critical social justice and public health concerns, impacts human capital and demographic dividend, highlights governance failures in education and mental health support, and involves constitutional rights (right to life and dignity). It's a multi-dimensional crisis requiring urgent policy interventions.
India is grappling with an escalating crisis of student suicides, reflecting deep-seated issues within its educational system, societal pressures, and inadequate mental health infrastructure, leading to a significant loss of young lives and human potential.
Facts & tables
- Rising Incidence
- 14,488 student suicides recorded in 2024, the highest ever, representing a 72% surge since 2013.
- Comparison with Farmer Suicides
- Student suicides have exceeded farmer suicides since 2021, demanding similar national attention.
- Root Causes
- Driven by intense academic pressure, societal expectations, economic insecurity, and lack of institutional mental health support.
- Judicial Intervention
- Supreme Court termed it an 'epidemic' and issued directives for educational institutions and coaching centers, including forming a National Task Force.
| Period | Student Suicides | Farmer Suicides |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,089 | 10,881 |
| 2021-2024 (Cumulative) | 54,513 | 43,503 |
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Social Justice & Development |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Supreme Court of India | Provides judicial oversight and issues directives for systemic change |
| National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) | Collects and publishes data on suicides in india |
| University Grants Commission (UGC) | Frames regulations for higher educational institutions |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis
Prelims angle: Policy measures
- Student suicides are a growing national crisis, surpassing farmer suicides since 2021.
- Root causes include academic pressure, societal expectations, and mental health stigma.
- Inadequate institutional support and counselling services exacerbate the problem.
- Supreme Court has intervened, terming it an 'epidemic' and issuing directives.
- Requires a multi-faceted approach beyond just mental health, addressing systemic issues.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2023 | Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures |
| 2022 | Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2018 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
| 2017 | Factual recall, Policy measures |
| 2017 | Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures |
| 2013 | Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions |
Timeline
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Social Justice & Development
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2013
Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2017
Factual recall, Policy measures
-
Prelims 2017
Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures
-
Prelims 2018
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2022
Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2023
Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures
-
Prelims 2024
Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions
-
The great despair: why are students dying
Student suicides are a growing national crisis in India, driven by academic pressure, societal expectations, and inadequate mental health support. The Supreme Court has intervened, highlighting the systemic nature of the problem, which demands comprehensive policy and social reforms.
See also
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Past papers
2013–2024 · 7 questions
In the news
The great despair: why are students dying
Student suicides are a growing national crisis in India, driven by academic pressure, societal expectations, and inadequate mental health support. The Supreme Court has intervened, highlighting the systemic nature of the problem, which demands comprehensive policy and social reforms.
Try these PYQs
Consider the following statements in relation to Janani Suraksha Yojana:
1. It is safe motherhood intervention of the State Health Departments.
2. Its objective is to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality among poor pregnant women.
3. It aims to promote institutional delivery among poor pregnant women.
4. Its objective includes providing public health facilities to sick infants up to one year of age.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect: Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) is a 100% Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the National Health Mission (NHM). It is a central intervention implemented by states, not an intervention of the State Health Departments. Statement 2 is correct: The primary objective is to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality by encouraging safe, institutional births. Statement 3 is correct: The scheme provides a cash incentive to mothers to promote institutional delivery, particularly among those from BPL, SC, and ST households. Statement 4 is incorrect: While care for sick infants is a priority under the National Health Mission, the provision of free facilities for sick infants up to one year of age is specifically a feature of the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) launched in 2011. JSY, launched in 2005, is primarily a conditional cash transfer scheme for delivery.
Which of the following are the objectives of ‘National Nutrition Mission’?
1. To create awareness relating to malnutrition among pregnant women and lactating mothers.
2. To reduce the incidence of anaemia among young children, adolescent girls and women.
3. To promote the consumption of millets, coarse cereals and unpolished rice.
4. To promote the consumption of poultry eggs.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
The National Nutrition Mission, also known as Poshan Abhiyaan, has several objectives. - The first objective is to create awareness relating to malnutrition among pregnant women and lactating mothers. - The second objective is to reduce the incidence of anaemia among young children, adolescent girls and women. These two objectives are clearly stated in the mission's goals. Hence, statements 1 & 2 are correct. However, the promotion of the consumption of millets, coarse cereals and unpolished rice, and the promotion of the consumption of poultry eggs are not explicitly stated as objectives of the mission. Hence, statement 3 & 4 are incorrect.
Who among the following can join the National Pension System (NPS)?
The Central Government introduced the National Pension System (NPS) with effect from January 1, 2004 (except for armed forces). Subsequently, various State Governments adopted this architecture and implemented NPS with effect from different dates. Eligibility to join
- Any citizen of India, whether resident or non-resident, subject to the following conditions.
- Individuals who are aged between 18 60 years, including NRIs.
- After attaining 60 years of age, you will not be permitted to make further contributions to the NPS accounts
With reference to Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, consider the following statements
1. It is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
2. It, among other things, will also impart training in soft skills, entrepreneurship, financial and digital literacy.
3. It aims to align the competencies of the unregulated workforce of the country to the National Skill Qualification Framework.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is Incorrect. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is responsible for PMKVY, not the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Statement 2 is Correct. PMKVY goes beyond technical skills training and incorporates soft skills, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and digital literacy to make participants more employable. Statement 3 is Correct. A core objective of PMKVY is to bridge the gap between the skills of the unregulated workforce and industry requirements by aligning them with the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF). This standardization helps ensure a minimum level of competency and improves employment opportunities.
Consider the following statements:
1. The India Sanitation Coalition is a platform to promote sustainable sanitation and is funded by the Government of India and the World Health Organization.
2. The National Institute of Urban Affairs is an apex body of the Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs in Government
of India and provides innovative solutions to address the challenges of Urban India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect. The India Sanitation Coalition was launched on June 25, 2015, at FICCI, New Delhi. ISC is a multi-stakeholder platform that brings together the private sector, government, financial institutions, civil society groups, media, donors/bilateral/multilateral, experts, etc., to work in the sanitation space to drive sustainable sanitation through a partnership model. It is not funded by WHO. Statement 2 is incorrect. The National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) is India’s premier urban think tank, shaping the urban narrative since its establishment in 1976, it not an apex body. It is an autonomous body under the Societies Registration Act.
Show 2 more PYQs
Consider the following statements:
1. National Development Council is an organ of the Planning Commission.
2. The Economic and Social Planning is kept in the Concurrent List in the Constitution of India.
3. The Constitution of India prescribes that Panchayats should be assigned the task of preparation of plans for economic development and social justice.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect: The National Development Council (NDC) is not an organ of the Planning Commission. It's an independent advisory body headed by the Prime Minister and includes Chief Ministers of all states, Union Cabinet Ministers, and members of the NITI Aayog (successor to the Planning Commission). It was set up on 6 August 1952. Statement 2 is correct: Economic and Social Planning is listed in the Concurrent List (List III) of the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Statement 3 is correct: The Constitution (Article 243G) empowers Panchayats (local village governments) to prepare plans for economic development and social justice at the village level. This promotes decentralized planning and community participation. Hence, statement one is incorrect and statements two and three are correct. _Note: While the NDC was proposed to be abolished, it has not been formally dissolved, although its powers have largely been transferred to the NITI Aayog's Governing Council._
Consider the following statements regarding World Toilet Organization :
1. It is one of the agencies of the United Nations.
2. World Toilet Summit, World Toilet Day and World Toilet College are the initiatives of this organization, to inspire action to tackle the global sanitation crisis.
3. The main focus of its function is to grant funds to the least developed countries and developing countries to achieve the end of open defecation.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
* Statement 1 is incorrect. The World Toilet Organization (WTO) is not an agency of the United Nations. It is an international non-profit organization. * Statement 2 is correct. The WTO is known for its initiatives like World Toilet Summit, World Toilet Day, and World Toilet College, all aimed at addressing the global sanitation crisis. * Statement 3 is incorrect. While the WTO advocates for improved sanitation and hygiene, its primary function is not to grant funds. It focuses on advocacy, education, and capacity building to achieve its goals. _Therefore, only statement 2 is correct._