Supreme Court Panel on Student Mental Health Receives 1 Lakh Survey Responses, Nodal Officers Appointed

Rapid Summary

• The National Task Force (NTF) established by the Supreme Court to address student suicides and mental health concerns in higher education institutes announced new measures on September 6, 2025.
• NTF will appoint nodal Officers for each State and Union Territory to advance its efforts.
• Surveys conducted by NTF have received over 1 lakh responses from students, faculty, parents, citizens, and mental health professionals.
• All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE)-registered institutions must submit detailed survey data by September 12. Regulatory bodies like AICTE, PCI, and BCI are also directed to furnish reports on relevant issues.
• Data required includes student/faculty composition details categorized under quotas; availability of mental health services; records of suicides/attempted suicides; dropout rates; grievance mechanisms; challenges faced in ensuring student well-being.
• The NTF has already visited 13 institutes across Delhi,Haryana,Karnataka,and Tamil Nadu for stakeholder consultations with plans for further visits.
• Key issues under review include ragging,discrimination on campus grounds (including caste),academic stressors as primary contributors to suicides among students.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The establishment of a National Task Force aimed at addressing systemic causes leading to student suicide is both timely and critical given recent alarming trends. With over one lakh survey responses collected thus far representing diverse stakeholders-including vulnerable youth groups-the initiative promises inclusivity in understanding the multifaceted pressures faced. Moreover appointment state coordination officers appears logical stepsereum Moving into scaling accountability intervention spaces align visible sub Havingparametric