IIT Delhi’s student death highlights the urgent need for accessible mental health support, academic flexibility, effective grievance systems and campus welfare safeguards.
The death of 31-year-old MSc Physics student Rishikesh Kumar at IIT Delhi has sparked protests and renewed attention on student mental health, academic pressure and campus welfare systems. More than 500 students have reportedly demanded an independent inquiry, accountability and stronger safeguards for student well-being.
The institute has since outlined the academic, mental-health and grievance-redressal mechanisms available to students. The developments have also brought a larger question into focus: are campus mental health support systems sufficiently accessible, responsive and effective when students face emotional, academic or personal difficulties?
IIT Delhi’s mental health support system
IIT Delhi says students have access to 24/7 mental health support, including counsellors and psychiatrists. The institute has also stated that students can access specialists associated with institutions including AIIMS and VIMHANS, while external mental healthcare is reimbursed.
An emergency response protocol and Academic Unit Wellness Committees are among the other measures cited by the institute. Peer support can also play an important role in helping students seek assistance. IIT Delhi’s UG Buddy programme was expanded in 2025 to include postgraduate and international students. The institute has additionally highlighted yoga and meditation modules developed through the National Resource Centre for Value Education in Engineering as part of its broader wellness initiatives.
Academic pressure and student mental health
Academic demands can significantly affect student well-being, particularly when combined with financial concerns, isolation, relationship difficulties, sleep problems or uncertainty about the future.
IIT Delhi says its curriculum introduced in 2025 includes measures intended to reduce academic pressure. First-semester credit requirements have been reduced, life-skills courses have been introduced, and first-year departmental classes have been capped at 30 to 60 students.
The institute has also said that weekend examinations have been minimised and students have greater flexibility in distributing credits. Since the 2024-25 academic year, the institute says it has also removed the minimum CGPA requirement for obtaining a B.Tech degree.
Support for students struggling academically
Academic difficulties can sometimes contribute to emotional distress, making early intervention important. IIT Delhi’s Academic Progress Group (APG) has provided evening tutoring and support for students dealing with credit backlogs since 2023. Faculty-student interaction is another component of the support system. Students can interact with faculty through open-door office hours, project guidance, hostel involvement, semester-wise meetings and Class Committee feedback.
The Student-Teacher Interaction Council also conducts semester-wise interactions, while student concerns can be represented through bodies including the Student Affairs Council and the Cocurricular Academic Interaction Council.
Why does campus mental health support matter?
The IIT Delhi student death and the protests that followed underline the importance of creating campuses where students feel comfortable seeking help without fear of stigma or academic consequences.
