Over 1.23 Lakh Students Died by Suicide From 2014-2024; Exam Failure, Family Problems Top Causes: NCRB

As many as 1.23 lakh students have died by suicide in the last 11 years, the NCRB data finds. It underscores the urgent need to address the pressure faced by Indian students, thousands of whom have come out to protest across India.

The Wire Staff

over 1 23 lakh students died by suicide from 2014 2024 exam failure family problems top causes ncrb

An individual lights a candle during a memorial vigil for students who died by suicide following the NEET-2026 examination paper leak, in New Delhi. Photo: PTI

New Delhi: A report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reveals that a total of 1,23,918 students took their own lives over the eleven-year period from 2014 to 2024. Maharashtra reported the highest number of cases, around 17,000, followed by Uttar Pradesh, with approximately 10,000. 

According to the Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India (ADSI) report, published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the number of student suicides increased by about 80% from 8,068 in 2014 to 14,488 in 2024 – the latest year for which data was made available.

"Family problems" has been identified as the leading cause of suicide, followed by “failure in examination”.

The report comes at a time when thousands of students across the country – but with a high concentration in Delhi – are protesting over recent examination scandals including the NEET paper leak and CBSE Class 12 results mess, demanding the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The clarion call was issued by the Cockroach Janta Party, a satirical political movement that erupted from a comment made by the Chief Justice of India.

In 2024, 2,032 suicides were attributed to examination failure, accounting for 14% of the total student suicides recorded in that year.

The ADSI report further highlights that states like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu consistently accounted for 50% of student suicides across the country, with geographical concentration tightly linked to coaching clusters – particularly Kota, and metropolitan education hubs like Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune. 

To address the rising cases of suicides, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) launched the National Suicide Prevention Strategy (NSPS) in 2022, aimed to achieve a 10% reduction in the suicide mortality rate in the country by 2030. 

Per a report by The Hindu, the Ministry of Education has told parliament during the ongoing session that its Manodarpan helpline, launched in July 2020 with the intention of provide psychosocial support to students, has received "more than 3.32 lakh calls from different regions as of March 2026".

The NCRB data underscores the urgent need to address the mounting pressure faced by Indian students amid the ongoing youth protest across India over NEET paper leaks and student suicides. The protest by Indian youth reflects frustration over repeated examinations and the systemic failures endured by students and their families. 

This article went live on July twenty-fourth, two thousand twenty six, at fifty-three minutes past five in the evening.

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