Parliament Question: Suicide Cases in PM-SHRI Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5919 ANSWERED ON 30.03.2026 Suicide Cases in PM-SHRI Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas 5919. Shri Kodikunnil Suresh: Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: (a) the total number of student suicide cases reported in PM SHRI Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas during the last five years and the current year, year-wise; (b) the details of such cases reported during the said period, school-wise, State/district-wise; (c) whether the Government has conducted any inquiry or investigation into the causes of such incidents including allegations of ragging, academic pressure, harassment or mental health issues in these residential schools and if so, the details thereof; (d) the details of preventive and corrective measures taken by the Government and the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti to address student mental health, including appointment of counsellors, grievance redressal mechanisms, anti-ragging measures and psychological support systems; and (e) whether the Government proposes to introduce a comprehensive mental health and student safety framework in Navodaya Vidyalayas to prevent such incidents in the future and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY) (a) to (e): As per information received from Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS), Year-wise total number of student suicide cases reported in Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVs) during the last five years, as well as the current year, is as under: Year Number of suicide cases 2021 2 2022 7 2023 8 2024 12 2025 8 2026 3 Total 40State and district-wise details of suicide cases reported in NVs during the last five years, and current year, are annexed. National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 recognizes that Education must build character, enable learners to be ethical, rational, compassionate, and caring, while at the same time prepare them for gainful and fulfilling employment. Apart from cognitive development aim is to build character and create holistic and well-rounded individuals equipped with the key 21st century skills. Further given the 21st century requirements, quality education is being aimed to develop good, thoughtful, well-rounded, and creative individuals, enabling an individual to study one or more specialized areas of interest at a deep level, and also develop character and 21st century capabilities across a range of disciplines. NEP 2020 also stipulates that the development of capacities that promote student wellness such as fitness, good health, psycho-social well-being, and sound ethical grounding are also critical for high-quality learning and for reducing mental pressure. The need to integrate sports in education is well recognized as it serves to foster holistic development by promoting physical and psychological well-being while also enhancing cognitive abilities. National Curriculum Framework for School Education inter-alia suggests a roadmap to address the concerns related to mental health guidance and counselling work for emotional regulation and positive motivation; incorporating mental health aspects in curriculum etc. Ministry of Education, has launched an initiative, MANODARPAN, under ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan’, with the aim to provide psychosocial support to students, their families and teachers across the country, for mental health and well-being during the times of COVID-19 and beyond. All activities undertaken under the MANODARPAN initiative are aimed towards supporting the metal health and well-being of students from schools, colleges and universities, including those students who are preparing for competitive examinations. A High-Level meeting was held recently in the Ministry of Education which was attended by a Senior Psychologist and Principals of identified NVs where suicide cases happened, faculty from NCERT along with officials of NVS to analyse the suicide cases in NVs. National Centre for School Leadership, NIEPA also conducts capacity development workshops for Principals of NVs on mental health and social emotional wellbeing of students, from time to time. NVS has conducted fact-finding inquiries into all such cases through duly constituted inquiry committees. Based on the findings of these committees, the major causes are as follows: • Family-related issues • Examination and academic pressure • High levels of ambition / Parental high expectations • Adolescent behavioural concerns • Mental health-related issues In addition to MANODARPAN initiative of the Ministry of Education, the following provisions are made to address mental health issues among students of NVs: • Counsellors (one male and one female) are being engaged in each NV.• Tele-counselling facilities are available for NV students. • Principals of all NVs are authorized to engage the services of professional counsellors from Government hospitals. • All teachers, performing loco-parenting roles in NVS, are trained in guidance and counselling. • A special 5-day in-service training programme on guidance and counselling is organized for House Masters (teachers). • Teachers are also nominated for a one-year Diploma in Guidance and Counselling conducted by NCERT. A Task Force was constituted in 2018 by the Ministry of Education to promote the psychosocial well-being of NV students and to strengthen the existing support system. Based on its recommendations, NVS has undertaken the following initiatives: • A toll-free helpline has been established for NV students to express their concerns, manage examination-related stress, and support their emotional health and well- being. • The “Happy Hours” concept has been introduced in all NVs to encourage positive interactions, sharing of humour, and other engaging activities, enabling students to end their day on a positive note and begin the next day with hope, happiness, and optimism. • Every year, NVS nominates 50–60 NV teachers for a one-year Diploma Course in Guidance and Counselling conducted by NCERT. *****ANNEXURE ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (e) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5919 ANSWERED ON 30.03.2026 RAISED BY SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH, HON’BLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT REGARDING SUICIDE CASES IN PM-SHRI JAWAHAR NAVODAYA VIDYALAYAS State and district-wise details of suicide cases reported in NVs during the last five years, and current year S. No. State NV (District) 1 Andhra Pradesh Nellore 2 Assam Cachar 3 Assam West Karbi Anglong 4 Bihar Darbhanga 5 Bihar Purnea 6 Bihar Saran 7 Chhattisgarh Dantewada 8 Chhattisgarh Rajnandgaon 9 Daman and Diu (UT) Daman 10 Haryana Kaithal 11 Haryana Sonipat 12 Himachal Pradesh Bilaspur 13 Jharkhand Bokaro 14 Jharkhand Deoghar 15 Jharkhand Dumka 16 Jharkhand Giridih 17 Jharkhand Gumla 18 Karnataka Bellary 19 Karnataka Bidar 20 Karnataka Chitradurga 21 Kerala Alappuzha 22 Kerala Alappuzha 23 Kerala Malappuram 24 Madhya Pradesh Anuppur 25 Madhya Pradesh Bhind 26 Madhya Pradesh Khandwa 27 Madhya Pradesh Ratlam-I 28 Madhya Pradesh Tikamgarh 29 Maharashtra Solapur 30 Odisha Bhadrak 31 Odisha Gajapati 32 Punjab Fatehgarh Sahib 33 Punjab Mohali 34 Rajasthan Banswara-I 35 Rajasthan Jaipur 36 Rajasthan Sikar 37 Uttar Pradesh Jhansi 38 Uttar Pradesh Moradabad 39 Uttar Pradesh Pilibhit 40 West Bengal Birbhum *****