Overview

• According to 2022 NCRB data, 13,044 students died by suicide, representing 7.6% of all suicides and prompting the Supreme Court in March to appoint an 18-member task force under Justice S Ravindra Bhat to recommend prevention strategies.
• On August 8, the task force launched ntf.education.gov.in, hosting five online surveys that invite students, parents, faculty, mental health professionals and the public to share experiences and suggestions.
• The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences acted as the Institutional Review Board, granting ethics clearance for the mixed-method questionnaires and ensuring research compliance.
• Building on May’s pilot visits to Ramjas College, Jamia Millia Islamia, the Indian Institute of Science and Bangalore Medical College, the panel has begun wider regional field visits to collect stakeholder feedback across diverse institutions.
• Findings from surveys and visits will inform an interim report due by late September, with a final report and actionable policy recommendations scheduled for December 2025.