The Ministry of Education on January 22, 2026, announced a three-member committee to investigate student suicides at IIT-Kanpur and recommend ways to prevent them. The panel will be led by Anil Sahastrabuddhe, chairman of the National Educational Technology Forum (NETF), psychiatrist Jitendra Nagpal, and a Joint Secretary of higher education. They must submit a report within 15 days. This order follows the deaths of two students at IIT-Kanpur in the past month, including a PhD scholar who died in the hostel. The Education Ministry said it gives the highest priority to students’ mental health and emotional wellbeing. It referenced its July 2023 “Framework Guidelines for Emotional and Mental Wellbeing of Students” aimed at creating supportive environments across higher education institutions. The committee has been asked to identify gaps and systemic challenges in mental health support at IIT-Kanpur and suggest improvements. According to the IIT Alumni Support Group, 30 students have died by suicide across all IITs in India over the last two years. IIT-Kanpur accounts for nine of these cases, the highest number among 23 IITs. IIT-Kharagpur follows with seven suicides, while IIT-Bombay—with more students—reported only one suicide during this time. The Education Ministry’s swift response comes amid growing concern about the mental health of students at premier institutions.