Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Education addressed concerns about caste-based discrimination and student suicides in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in response to Lok Sabha Question No. 2408 on August 4, 2025. The response outlines measures taken by the Government and the University Grants Commission (UGC) to prevent discrimination, ensure mental health support, and foster inclusive environments for SC/ST students. These measures include data collection, mental health programs, regulatory frameworks, and institutional mechanisms.
Key Points / Main Content:
Data Collection and Analysis:
* The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) collects and publishes data on student suicides, including year-wise and state-wise details in its Accidental Death Suicide in India (ADSI) reports, accessible online.
Mental Health Support Initiatives:
* The Government provides psychological support through initiatives like MANODARPAN.
* The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare implements the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP), including suicide prevention services and workplace stress management.
* The National Tele Mental Health Programme (launched in 2022) and Tele MANAS Mobile Application (launched in 2024) aim to improve access to mental health services.
* 36 States/UTs have established 53 Tele MANAS Cells, handling over 24.50 lakh calls.
Regulatory Framework and Guidelines:
* UGC Promotion of Equity in Higher Educational Institutions Regulations, 2012, mandates measures to safeguard student interests regardless of caste, creed, religion, language, ethnicity, gender, and disability.
* HEIs must establish Equal Opportunity Cells and appoint Anti-Discrimination Officers.
* Counselling Centres with trained counselors are required to provide services to students, research scholars, and faculty.
* UGC Redressal of Grievances of Students Regulations, 2023, requires universities to constitute Student Grievance Redressal Committees and appoint Ombudspersons.
* UGC Regulations on curbing the menace of Ragging in Higher Educational Institutions, 2009, amended in 2016, include caste-based discrimination within the definition of ragging.
* A 24x7 anti-ragging helpline (18001805522) is available in 12 languages.
Institutional Mechanisms:
* Institutions have established SC/ST student cells, Equal Opportunity Cells, Student Grievance Cells/Committees, Liaison officers, and Liaison Committees.
* UGC issued advisories on the National Suicide Prevention Strategy (January 6, 2023) and guidelines for promoting physical fitness, sports, student health, welfare, and psychological and emotional well-being (April 13, 2023).
* A framework for emotional and mental well-being in HEIs was circulated on July 10, 2023, encouraging proactive measures.
Teacher Training:
* The Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme includes an integrated approach to promote positive mental health, resilience, and well-being.
Impact Analysis:
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs):
* Impact: Required to implement and strengthen mechanisms for preventing discrimination, providing mental health support, and addressing student grievances.
* Action Required: Establish/strengthen Equal Opportunity Cells, appoint Anti-Discrimination Officers and Ombudspersons, set up counselling centers, promote mental health initiatives, and integrate yoga and sports into campus life.
Students (Especially SC/ST):
* Impact: Access to improved support systems, grievance redressal mechanisms, and mental health services.
* Action Required: Utilize available resources like helplines, counseling centers, and grievance redressal committees to report discrimination or seek mental health support.
Faculty and Staff:
* Impact: Increased awareness and training on addressing student mental health concerns and promoting inclusivity.
* Action Required: Participate in training programs like the Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme and implement strategies to support student well-being.
University Grants Commission (UGC):
* Impact: Responsible for monitoring and ensuring the implementation of regulations and guidelines related to equity, inclusion, and student well-being in HEIs.
* Action Required: Continue to issue advisories, monitor compliance, and provide resources to HEIs to promote a supportive and inclusive environment.
Key Entities Referenced
Scheduled Caste: A group of historically disadvantaged communities in India, protected by constitutional provisions and relevant legislation.
Scheduled Tribe: A group of historically disadvantaged indigenous communities in India, protected by constitutional provisions and relevant legislation.
University Grants Commission: A statutory body established by the Indian government to coordinate, determine and maintain standards of higher education in India.
National Crime Record Bureau: An Indian government agency responsible for collecting and analyzing crime data.
MANODARPAN: An initiative of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, that provides psychological support to students, teachers, and families for mental and emotional wellbeing.
National Mental Health Programme: A programme implemented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, to address mental health disorders.
Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States: A tele-mental health service initiative launched in 2022, to improve access to quality mental health counseling and care services.
Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme: An initiative by the Department of Higher Education to promote positive mental health, resilience, and wellbeing through teacher training.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 2408
ANSWERED ON- 04/08/2025
Caste-Based Discrimination in Higher Education Institutions
2408. Shri K Radhakrishnan:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has any data of suicide cases of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe
Students in Higher Educational Institutions like IITs, IIMs, Central Universities and other institutions
during the last ten years;
(b) if so, the details thereof, year-wise and institution-wise;
(c) whether any specific cases of caste-based discrimination have been reported in these institutions
during the above said period;
(d) if so, the details thereof along with action taken thereon; and
(e) the steps taken by the Government and the University Grants Commission (UGC) to prevent
discrimination and ensure mental health, support and inclusive environment for SC/ST students in
these institutions?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)
(a) to (e): National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) collects data on suicides from police recorded
suicide cases. Comprehensive analysis of the data related to the accidental deaths and suicides in the
country is published in the yearly Accidental Death & Suicide in India (ADSI) reports by National
Crime Record Bureau (NCRB). Year wise and State wise details of student suicides are available in
the ADSI reports which are accessible at https://ncrb.gov.in/accidental-deaths-suicides-in-india-year-
wise.html.
The Government is taking multi-pronged measures and provides psychological support to students,
teachers and families for mental and emotional well-being to avoid incidences of suicide. An
initiative of Ministry of Education, MANODARPAN, covers a wide range of activities to provide
psychological support to students, teachers and families for mental and emotional well-being.
To address the burden of mental disorders, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is
implementing the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) in the country. The objectives of
DMHP component under NMHP is to provide suicide prevention services, work place stress
management, life skills training and counselling in schools and colleges.
A “National Tele Mental Health Programme” has been launched in 2022 and Tele MANAS Mobile
Application in 2024, to improve access to quality mental health counselling and care services in thecountry. As on today, 36 States/ UTs have set up 53 Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking
Across States (MANAS) Cells. More than 24.50 lakhs calls have been handled on the helpline
number.
To address the issue of equity and inclusion in the education, Government has taken multipronged
approach and initiatives. UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations,
2012 have been notified, which is applicable to all the HEIs under its purview. It provides for HEIs to
take measures to safeguard the interests of the students without any prejudice to their caste, creed,
religion, language, ethnicity, gender and disability. The regulation provides for establishment of
Equal Opportunity Cell and appointment of Anti-Discrimination Officer in each University. It also
stipulates setting up of Counselling Centres with professionally trained counsellors to provide
services to students, research scholars and faculty including non-teaching staff.
UGC (Redressal of Grievances of Students) Regulations, 2023 have been formulated to safeguard the
interest of students. As per the regulation, universities are required to constitute Students Grievance
Redressal Committee and appoint Ombudsperson.
UGC had also notified Regulations on curbing the menace of Ragging in Higher Educational
Institutions, 2009 which have been further amended on 29.06.2016 to bring all caste-based
discrimination in ambit of ragging. In order to prevent ragging in Higher Education Institutions, UGC
has setup a nationwide toll free 24x7 anti ragging helpline 1800-180-5522 in 12 languages which can
be accessed by students in distress owing to ragging related incidents.
In order to proactively address any issues of SC / ST students, Institutes have set up mechanisms
such as SC / ST students’ cells, Equal Opportunity Cell, Student Grievance Cell, Student Grievance
Committee, Student Social Club, Liaison officers, Liaison Committee etc.
UGC issued advisory to HEIs on 06.01.2023 regarding the National Suicide Prevention Strategy
framed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Further, UGC has issued guidelines for Promotion of Physical Fitness, Sports, Student’s Health,
Welfare, Psychological and Emotional Well- being at HEIs on 13.04.2023. The Ministry on
10.07.2023 has also circulated a broad framework for emotional and mental well-being of students in
Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) with request to take proactive measures to incorporate the same in
the institutional functioning and instil a feeling of confidence in the student community. Both these
guidelines lay emphasis inter alia on sports, yoga, meditation etc. to address the well-being and
mental health concerns. HEIs are promoting the integration of yoga in the academic life on campus
by introducing year long yoga event calendars, dedicated courses on yoga etc.
Department of Higher Education has initiated the Integrated approach for Promoting Positive Mental
Health, Resilience, and Wellbeing under the Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme. It
comprises online and in-person sessions, visits to institutions with innovative mental health practices,
and an Annual National Wellbeing Conclave. The goal is to empower faculty to address student
mental health concerns for early intervention.
The process of strengthening and upgrading mental-health infrastructure in educational institutions is
accorded due priority.
***