Battling bias on IIT campuses
1 year, 11 months ago

Battling bias on IIT campuses

Hindustan Times  

They were India’s islands of excellence, set up in an infant country to prepare a generation for nation-building. Yet, in recent years, various campuses of the Indian Institutes of Technology have been in the news for a string of student suicides, sparking allegations ranging from caste-based discrimination, harassment by faculty and alienation. In March, the Union education ministry told Parliament that 33 students died by suicide at IITs since 2018, nearly half of them from marginalised communities. For example, cells for scheduled caste and scheduled tribe students have existed for years now, but with very little real power to catalyse change. Submissions in Parliament show people from marginalised communities make up a sliver of the total faculty intake, thereby depriving many students of mentors who can help and intervene in moments of distress or crisis.

India Student Iit  caste  iits  world  student  bias  campuses  suicide  students  battling  iit  set  social  work  marginalised

History of this topic

'Extremely unfortunate': SC laments suicides in IITs, IIMs, assures robust steps
1 month ago

'Extremely unfortunate': SC laments suicides in IITs, IIMs, assures robust steps

New Indian Express  

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said the University Grants Commission had formulated draft regulations, which took care of majority of the concerns raised by the petitioners, and were uploaded on its website inviting suggestions and objections from the public. It directed the UGC to notify draft regulations to ensure no caste-based discrimination happened with students in the …

IIT Bombay stops sharing caste data for placements following allegation of discrimination
1 month, 2 weeks ago

IIT Bombay stops sharing caste data for placements following allegation of discrimination

Live Mint  

Facing allegations of caste-based discrimination, the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay has abandoned its practice of collecting students' category details, which the institute shared with PSUs. In January, the NCSC urged IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi and the Ministry of Education to submit an action taken report within 15 days regarding the alleged discrimination in the placement of students. The placement …

Caste discrimination during IIT campus placements: Scheduled Caste panel issues notice on one-year-old complaint
2 months, 1 week ago

Caste discrimination during IIT campus placements: Scheduled Caste panel issues notice on one-year-old complaint

The Hindu  

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes has now taken up a complaint of caste discrimination at the hands of the campus placement offices in the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi and IIT-Bombay, over a year after it was filed in November 2023. The NCSC notice, issued on January 15, comes within days of the Supreme Court taking up a case …

IIM-Bangalore student Nilay Patel's mysterious death sparks caste discrimination debate
Trending News
2 months, 4 weeks ago

IIM-Bangalore student Nilay Patel's mysterious death sparks caste discrimination debate

India TV News  

The death of an Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore student Nilay Kailashbhai Patel has sparked a debate on caste discrimination on the internet. Furthermore, the association has also urged the Ministry of Education and Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan to take immediate action. AIOBCSA further said, "We call upon the Education Minister of India to take immediate action to …

How SC wants UGC to 'effectively' end caste discrimination on campus
2 months, 4 weeks ago

How SC wants UGC to 'effectively' end caste discrimination on campus

India Today  

The Supreme Court’s directive on January 3 marked a significant turning point in addressing caste-based discrimination in India’s higher education institutions. The petition filed by Vemula and Tadvi’s mothers also highlighted institutional apathy, with many universities failing to record or address complaints of caste-based discrimination adequately. Institutions must also invest in mental health resources tailored to the unique challenges faced …

Caste discrimination in university campuses
2 months, 4 weeks ago

Caste discrimination in university campuses

Hindustan Times  

The Supreme Court’s directive asking the University Grants Commission to notify within six weeks new regulations to combat caste-based discrimination and suicides in higher education institutions has come not a moment too soon. Since the tragic suicide of the University of Hyderabad doctoral student Rohith Vemula amid allegations of caste-based bias by the campus authorities in January 2016, it has …

Caste discrimination in Higher Educational Institutions: SC seeks data from UGC on Equal Opportunity Cells
3 months ago

Caste discrimination in Higher Educational Institutions: SC seeks data from UGC on Equal Opportunity Cells

New Indian Express  

The Supreme Court on Friday called on the University Grants Commission to collate and furnish data from universities with regard to setting up of Equal Opportunity Cells and the total number of complaints received under the UGC Regulations 2012 alongwith action taken reports. The court was dealing with a PIL filed by the mothers of Rohit Vemula and Payal Tadvi …

Flexible Attendance Rules Among Slew of Policy Changes at IIT-Guwahati After Spate of Student Suicides
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Flexible Attendance Rules Among Slew of Policy Changes at IIT-Guwahati After Spate of Student Suicides

News 18  

A new attendance policy, flexibility in the schedule of supplementary exams, and online pre-registrations for each semester are among the major policy changes that the Indian Institute of Technology -Guwahati has agreed to work on after three student suicides in the year so far, two within a month, left the campus in a turmoil. “The institute will be working out …

11 ways to address rising suicides in premier college campuses, according to an IIT alumnus
1 year, 1 month ago

11 ways to address rising suicides in premier college campuses, according to an IIT alumnus

Hindustan Times  

The parents of Nashik-based Varad Nerker were overjoyed to see their son accepted into the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi’s Masters of Technology programme. I also used reliable sources, such as Parliament questions, the IIT Council website, college annual reports, RTI replies and media reports to compile the data in the analysis. Maximum suicides were reported at IIT Madras, …

IIT-Kanpur looking into complaint of recruitment bias against SC, ST, OBC students
1 year, 4 months ago

IIT-Kanpur looking into complaint of recruitment bias against SC, ST, OBC students

The Hindu  

The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, on November 15, said it is looking into complaints that companies recruiting from the campus were discriminating against students hailing from a reserved category by making it mandatory to reveal their entrance test ranks, and have put them at risk of having to disclose their socio-economic status. The IIT’s Students’ Placement Office had received …

IIT-Kanpur accused of facilitating discrimination by recruiters
1 year, 4 months ago

IIT-Kanpur accused of facilitating discrimination by recruiters

The Hindu  

As Indian Institutes of Technology across the country start campus placements, a complaint has been filed with the Education Ministry, Social Justice Ministry and the National Commissions for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes, alleging that the Placements Office at IIT-Kanpur was allowing recruiting companies to discriminate against prospective candidates based on their caste or socio-economic category. Mr. …

Caste discrimination survey in IIT-Delhi commenced and withdrawn
1 year, 6 months ago

Caste discrimination survey in IIT-Delhi commenced and withdrawn

The Hindu  

After two Dalit students allegedly died by suicide at the Indian Institute of Technology -Delhi in the past two months, a campus-wide survey on caste discrimination circulated by the institute’s Board of Student Publications was suspended within hours of commencing. As soon as the survey was shared, complaints said the survey’s design was “biased, insensitive, and problematic”, with the institute’s …

IIT Delhi drops one set of mid-semester exams to reduce academic pressure
1 year, 7 months ago

IIT Delhi drops one set of mid-semester exams to reduce academic pressure

India TV News  

The Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi has revamped its evaluation system and dropped a set of mid-semester exams to reduce stress among students. The decision comes against the backdrop of several cases of student suicides in several IITs, which has sparked a debate on whether the curriculum and tough study schedule is affecting the mental health of students. 'There will …

UGC sets up expert panel to look into schemes for SC/ST students
1 year, 7 months ago

UGC sets up expert panel to look into schemes for SC/ST students

Hindustan Times  

Regulations and schemes for marginalised communities will be scrutinised by an expert panel of the higher education regulator, the education ministry informed Parliament after the Supreme Court in July asked for a status report on steps the University Grants Commission was taking to protect the interest of scheduled castes and tribes, other backward classes, persons with disabilities and minority communities. …

IIT-Bombay sends missive on anti-discrimination guidelines ahead of arrival of new batch
1 year, 8 months ago

IIT-Bombay sends missive on anti-discrimination guidelines ahead of arrival of new batch

The Hindu  

After the suicide of a Dalit B. student shook up the Indian Institute of Technology -Bombay with allegations of widespread caste discrimination early this year, the institute is publicising its anti-discrimination policy, which now specifically includes triggers and don’ts for caste discrimination, with the Dean of Student Affairs sending out the guidelines to everyone on campus in an email on …

98 students died by suicide in higher educational institutes since 2018: Centre
1 year, 8 months ago

98 students died by suicide in higher educational institutes since 2018: Centre

Hindustan Times  

Ninety-eight students died by suicide in higher education institutions between 2018 and 2023 and the largest chunk of deaths came from IITs, the education ministry told Parliament on Wednesday. Responding to a question asked by Communist Party of India Rajya Sabha member V Sivadasan, Union minister of state for education Subhas Sarkar submitted the data of students who died by …

IIT-B Dalit student’s death: NCSC ‘satisfied’ with inquiry
1 year, 10 months ago

IIT-B Dalit student’s death: NCSC ‘satisfied’ with inquiry

The Hindu  

Two days after the Mumbai Police filed a chargesheet in the suicide of IIT-Bombay student Darshan Solanki, accusing his batchmate, Arman Iqbal Khatri, of abetment, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes on June 1 closed its investigation into the matter. Acknowledging the probe by the police as outlined in the chargesheet, the NCSC on June 1 decided to close its …

‘Happiness’ website, wellness sessions for students at IIT-Madras
1 year, 11 months ago

‘Happiness’ website, wellness sessions for students at IIT-Madras

Hindustan Times  

Recognising that the emotional well-being of students is a concern following the Covid-19 pandemic, IIT-Madras is conducting wellness sessions and has launched a “happiness” website, said the institute’s director V Kamakoti on Thursday. IIT-M has also set up its first international campus in Tanzania for which classes will begin in October 2023, director Kamakoti said during the event. Billionaire- businessman …

IITs told to ensure zero discrimination on campus after spate of suicides by students
1 year, 11 months ago

IITs told to ensure zero discrimination on campus after spate of suicides by students

Hindustan Times  

Amid a spate of student suicides at the country’s premier Indian Institutes of Technology, the IIT council led by the Union education minister on Tuesday directed that the institutes ensure “zero tolerance” for discrimination at their campuses and provide a robust support system. “IITs should provide all support systems for students and should have zero tolerance for all kinds of …

No case of caste discrimination or alienation of SC/ST students reported from IITs in last 5 years: Govt. in RS
2 years ago

No case of caste discrimination or alienation of SC/ST students reported from IITs in last 5 years: Govt. in RS

The Hindu  

The Union government on Wednesday told the Rajya Sabha, “No cases of caste discrimination and alienation in SC/ ST students have been reported from IITs in the last 5 years,” in response to a question about caste discrimination in higher educational institutes by MDMK MP Vaiko. Mr. Vaiko had asked the Union government about cases of caste discrimination in IITs …

IIT-B Dalit student’s death | Darshan’s father writes to institute director seeking outside probe, rejecting internal panel report
2 years ago

IIT-B Dalit student’s death | Darshan’s father writes to institute director seeking outside probe, rejecting internal panel report

The Hindu  

Rameshbhai Solanki, the father of 18-year-old Darshan Solanki, who allegedly died by suicide at IIT-Bombay in February, on March 24 wrote to institute Director Subhasis Chaudhuri seeking “with folded hands” that the probe into his son’s death be handed over to an “outside” State or Central agency. IIT-B constituted an internal panel to look into the death, following which the …

IITs Record Highest Student Suicides Out of 61 Reported from Top Tech Institutes in Last 5 Years, Rajya Sabha Told
2 years ago

IITs Record Highest Student Suicides Out of 61 Reported from Top Tech Institutes in Last 5 Years, Rajya Sabha Told

News 18  

The highest number of student suicides was recorded at the premier IITs over the past five years, followed by NITs and IIMs, the union education ministry told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. Of these, 33 students died by suicide at various Indian Institutes of Technology, followed by 24 at National Institutes of Technology and four at Indian Institutes of Management, …

IIT-B suicide case: Internal panel rules out caste discrimination cause of suicide
2 years ago

IIT-B suicide case: Internal panel rules out caste discrimination cause of suicide

Op India  

An internal committee commissioned by the Indian Institute of Bombay found “no specific evidence of direct caste-based discrimination” resulting in the death of Darshan Solanki, a student who allegedly committed suicide in February. How the Leftists exploited the death of Darshan Solanki to promote their Hinduphobic propaganda The Dalit Voice, a popular Twitter account that often peddles Hinduphobic content on …

Protests continue over death of IIT Bombay student
2 years, 1 month ago

Protests continue over death of IIT Bombay student

India Today  

Members of various student organisations on Monday staged protests in front of the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay against the death of Darshan Solanki. Student outfits SFI and Republican Party of India organised separate protests demanding justice for Solanki. The student outfits have sought registration of a case under the SC/ST Act in connection with the death and a thorough …

Parliamentary SC/ST committee to discuss IIT-B suicide
2 years, 1 month ago

Parliamentary SC/ST committee to discuss IIT-B suicide

Hindustan Times  

The parliamentary standing committee for the welfare of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes has called a meeting on February 22 to discuss the recent suicide of 18-year-old Darshan Solanki at IIT-Bombay. After students demanded that the names of those in the inquiry committee be announced, IIT-B director Subhasis Chaudhuri issued a note on Saturday which said that the institute had …

IIT Bombay Student Had Told Senior He Was Facing Discrimination ‘Day In, Day Out’: Student Body
2 years, 1 month ago

IIT Bombay Student Had Told Senior He Was Facing Discrimination ‘Day In, Day Out’: Student Body

News 18  

The chorus around justice for 18-year-old IIT Bombay student, Darshan Solanki, who died on February 12 by allegedly jumping off the seventh floor of his hostel building over a casteist remark, is gaining momentum. But he said it wasn’t a concern as a matter of fact.” A member of Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle, on condition of anonymity, told CNN-News18 …

After Suicide in IIT-B, Former UGC Chief Demands Mandatory Civic Learning Course
2 years, 1 month ago

After Suicide in IIT-B, Former UGC Chief Demands Mandatory Civic Learning Course

The Quint  

The death of Darshan Solanki, a first-year BTech student at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, has reignited discussions around caste discrimination and harassment on campus. Sukhdeo Thorat, economist and former chairperson of the University Grants Commission, said that the higher educational institutions have not shown much initiative in addressing the discrimination faced by lower caste students on campus. In …

Months before Dalit student’s death, IIT-Bombay surveyed caste-discrimination on campus
2 years, 1 month ago

Months before Dalit student’s death, IIT-Bombay surveyed caste-discrimination on campus

The Hindu  

Months before the 18-year-old Dalit student, Darshan Solanki, killed himself inside the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay barely three months into his Chemical Engineering course, the institute’s Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Cell had conducted two campus-wide surveys about caste discrimination and mental health issues faced by SC/ST students, The Hindu has learnt. According to internal documents seen by The …

Allegations of caste bias after IIT-Bombay student jumps to death, minister Athawale visits campus
2 years, 1 month ago

Allegations of caste bias after IIT-Bombay student jumps to death, minister Athawale visits campus

India Today  

Amid allegations that caste discrimination drove a student of Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, to kill himself, RPI President and Minister of State for Social Justice, Ramdas Athawale, on Wednesday visited the premier institute. The Union minister's visit gains significance amid allegations of caste discrimination in the premier institute and its role in Solanki's death. The Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study …

Dalit student’s death at IIT-Bombay highlights institutional failure to create safe spaces, says Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle
2 years, 1 month ago

Dalit student’s death at IIT-Bombay highlights institutional failure to create safe spaces, says Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle

The Hindu  

A day after an 18-year-old Dalit student of IIT, Bombay, allegedly killed himself within the campus, a student group at the institute has alleged that the first-year Chemical Engineering student was driven to suicide in part due to institutional failure to address discrimination faced by Dalit, Bahujan and Adivasi students on campus. The Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle at the …

After IIT Bombay student's ‘suicide’, group alleges ‘caste discrimination'
2 years, 1 month ago

After IIT Bombay student's ‘suicide’, group alleges ‘caste discrimination'

Hindustan Times  

A day after an 18-year-old student of the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, located in Powai area, allegedly died by suicide by jumping off the seventh floor of a hostel building located on the campus, a student group alleged that he was driven to take the extreme step due to discrimination against Scheduled Caste students on the campus. The Powai …

IIT-Bombay student commits suicide, students' group alleges caste discrimination at campus
2 years, 1 month ago

IIT-Bombay student commits suicide, students' group alleges caste discrimination at campus

India TV News  

A day after an 18-year-old Indian Institute of Technology Bombay student, Darshan Solanki allegedly committed suicide by jumping off the 7th floor of hostel building, a student group has alleged that students from "non-urban, non-English speaking backgrounds, oppressed castes and low-income families" face immense harassment and discrimination on the campus. While an investigation has been initiated, a student group Ambedkar …

IIT-Madras Professor Alleges Caste Discrimination in Resignation Letter
3 years, 9 months ago

IIT-Madras Professor Alleges Caste Discrimination in Resignation Letter

News 18  

A professor at IIT-Madras — India’s top-ranked engineering institute — has alleged discrimination at his workplace. In his parting letter to the institute’s administration, the professor of the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences department said that there were multiple “specific” instances of discrimination and that he will be pursuing appropriate actions to address the matter. Any complaint received by …

IIT Delhi decides to revamp its curriculum to prevent student suicides
7 years, 10 months ago

IIT Delhi decides to revamp its curriculum to prevent student suicides

Firstpost  

Concerned with cases of student suicide at IITs, the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi has decided to revamp its curriculum. New Delhi: Concerned with cases of student suicide at IITs, the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi has decided to revamp its curriculum in a way that helps them tackle study pressure effectively and keep suicidal tendency at bay. All IITs …

Another Dalit suicide on campus raises fears of a crisis of discrimination at Indian universities
8 years ago

Another Dalit suicide on campus raises fears of a crisis of discrimination at Indian universities

LA Times  

When a student’s body was found hanging in his friend’s room this week at New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University, the story sounded all too familiar. While police said they are still searching for a motive in Krishnan’s apparent suicide, students said he had been deeply troubled by the status of Dalits, once known as “untouchables,” at the university. He was …

IIT-Madras suicides: Here's a blog chronicling deaths in IITs and coaching schools
8 years, 8 months ago

IIT-Madras suicides: Here's a blog chronicling deaths in IITs and coaching schools

Firstpost  

The race to get into an IIT or clearing an elite engineering college is proving to be fatal for students. This deplorable state of students has only exacerbated in all these years and a blog started in 2011 keeps a track of all the suicide cases that have ever been reported in Kota, hub of IIT coaching centres or IITs. …

Activists share experiences on caste discrimination in institutes
9 years ago

Activists share experiences on caste discrimination in institutes

Hindustan Times  

Barun Kumar, 30, belongs to other backward classes but joined the anti-reservation movement during his college days. However, I was never accepted in the group even though I got admission through merit,” said Kumar, a law graduate from Patna. He was a part of the gathering of students and human rights lawyers, most of them belonging to backward classes, at …

How a student’s suicide has reignited a debate over caste in India
9 years, 2 months ago

How a student’s suicide has reignited a debate over caste in India

LA Times  

One day last week, Rohith Vemula was protesting his suspension from Hyderabad Center University in southern India. The next day, the 26-year-old PhD student hanged himself, leaving behind a suicide note that read, “My birth is my fatal accident.” Vemula’s death Sunday has sparked an outcry and renewed a nationwide debate over the treatment of Dalits, the lowliest members of …

Over 4,400 students dropped out of IITs, NITs in three years: HRD Minister Smriti Irani
9 years, 7 months ago

Over 4,400 students dropped out of IITs, NITs in three years: HRD Minister Smriti Irani

Firstpost  

Over 4,400 students dropped out of IITs and NITs in the last three years due to various reasons including “academic stress”, HRD Minister Smriti Irani told Lok Sabha and assured that corrective actions have been initiated. New Delhi: Over 4,400 students dropped out of IITs and NITs in the last three years due to various reasons including “academic stress”, the …

Keeping the dignity of IITs intact
15 years, 5 months ago

Keeping the dignity of IITs intact

The Hindu  

On September 24, the strange phenomenon of a “working day fast” was observed in the campuses of the Indian Institutes of Technology by professors protesting against proposals for the IIT system issued by the Ministry of Human Resources Development. While the stand-off at the IITs has come to an end for now with talks held on Gandhi Jayanthi, the protest …

Discover Related