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Amid ongoing student protest, IIT Delhi said they have access to mental healthcare services 24/7 through a team of counsellors and psychiatrists.
IIT Delhi has detailed the various support systems it says are already operational across the campus. (File Photo)
Amid protests by students following the death of MSc student Rishikesh Kumar, IIT Delhi said student welfare and mental well-being remain an “absolute priority” and that it will continue to strengthen its systems. The institute said it will take all necessary measures to ensure that students receive the support and care they need throughout their academic journey.
In a press release issued on August 27, the institute said student well-being is a “fundamental prerequisite” for creating an environment where students feel heard and supported.
The statement comes as students have been protesting on campus and demanding systemic changes in student welfare mechanisms, along with an independent probe into the circumstances surrounding the student’s death.
Students have raised concerns about mental health support, academic pressure and the existing grievance redressal system. They have also demanded greater accountability from the institute and stronger institutional mechanisms to support students in distress.
Against this backdrop, IIT Delhi has detailed the various support systems it says are already operational across the campus.
Academic workload reduced
The institute said several steps have been taken to reduce academic pressure. Under the new curriculum introduced in 2025, the credit load for first-semester students has been reduced and life-skills courses have been added.
First-year departmental classes have also been capped at 30–60 students. IIT Delhi said weekend examinations have been minimised and credit distribution remains flexible.
Another major change was introduced from the 2024–25 academic year, when the institute removed the minimum CGPA requirement for obtaining a BTech degree.
24/7 mental health support
IIT Delhi said students have access to mental healthcare services 24/7 through a team of counsellors and psychiatrists. The support network also includes experts from institutions such as AIIMS and VIMHANS.
The institute said external mental healthcare is fully reimbursed and an emergency response protocol is available for urgent situations.
Its UG Buddy Programme was expanded in 2025 to include postgraduate and international students through the PG Buddy and International Buddy programmes.
The National Resource Centre for Value Education in Engineering (NRCVEE) at IIT Delhi has also included yoga and meditation modules in its wellness initiatives.
Faculty mentoring and academic help
The institute said it has several mechanisms to improve interaction between students and faculty.
Through the Student-Teacher Interaction Council, semester-wise get-togethers are organised. Faculty members also engage with students through office hours, project guidance, hostel involvement and Class Committee feedback.
Students facing academic difficulties can receive additional support through the Academic Progress Group, which has been providing evening tutoring and credit-backlog assistance since 2023.
Multiple grievance mechanisms
IIT Delhi has also highlighted several channels through which students can raise concerns.
These include a centralised ERP portal that allows complaints to be tracked, the Board for Student Welfare, SC/ST and OBC cells, hostel wardens, the Internal Complaints Committee and confidential counselling channels.
The institute said these mechanisms are designed to ensure that student complaints are handled through a transparent system.
Focus on diversity and inclusion
IIT Delhi said its Office of Diversity and Inclusion has been running non-discrimination and accessibility programmes across campus since 2022.
Freshers are also provided sensitisation programmes through initiatives such as the Initiative for Gender Equity and Sensitisation, Initiative for Caste Equity and Office of Accessible Education.
The programmes focus on implicit and explicit bias related to caste, gender, language, region and ethnicity.
Students continue to seek ‘systemic change’
While IIT Delhi has pointed to its existing support infrastructure, students protesting on campus have called for deeper institutional reforms. Saksham, a second-year BTech student at IIT Delhi who is participating in the ongoing protest, said the agitation began after Kumar’s death on August 22.
Their demands have included an independent investigation into the student’s death and stronger, independent mental health mechanisms for students. “Our core demands have largely not been accepted. Demands were raised regarding financial compensation, an independent investigation, and a free and fair systemic overhaul. On all these fronts, students feel that no concrete decisions have been made yet, which is why they are continuing with their protest,” Saksham told ANI.
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August 28, 2026, 10:36 IST
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