9th Suicide at IIT Kanpur: 25-Year-Old PhD Scholar Dies by Suicide, Leaving Behind Wife and Toddler Daughter

Kanpur – The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur is reeling from yet another devastating tragedy, as 25-year-old PhD scholar Ramswroop Ishram from Churu's Giriwarsar (Rajasthan), took his own life by jumping from the sixth floor of the New SBRA hostel on Tuesday afternoon. This marks the ninth student suicide on the campus in the last two years, intensifying a national outcry over the mental health crisis plaguing India's premier engineering institutions.

Ishram, who joined the Department of Earth Sciences in July 2023, was described by the institute as a "promising researcher" whose untimely demise has left the academic community in profound grief. In an official statement released late Tuesday, IIT Kanpur authorities expressed their condolences: "Mr. Ramswroop Ishram, a PhD scholar who joined the Department of Earth Sciences in July 2023, passed away today. Mr. Ishram was a promising researcher, and at this hour of grief, the Institute condoles the untimely demise of a promising researcher and prays for strength to the bereaved family."

Ishram, reportedly battling long-term depression and diagnosed with schizophrenia, was under counseling at the institute's health center. Sources close to the investigation revealed he had been struggling with anxiety, though no suicide note was found at the scene. Forensics teams are examining the site for additional clues, with ACP Kalyanpur Ashutosh Kumar confirming "underground depression clues" during preliminary inquiries.

This incident is the third suicide at IIT Kanpur in the past four months, following the December 29, 2025, death of BTech student Jai Singh Meena, who hanged himself in his hostel room leaving a note that read "Sorry everyone."

A total of 30 IIT students have died by suicide in the last 2 years, out of which 9 suicide, i.e. one-third, deaths have taken place in IIT Kanpur campus alone which is the highest death toll in any of the 23 IITs in the country. After IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur had the second highest number of 7 suicide deaths during this period even though IIT kharagpur has one and a half times students in their campus than IIT Kanpur.

Activist and IIT Kanpur alumnus Dheeraj Singh, speaking to The Mooknayak, renewed his scathing critique of institutional leadership. "The Supreme Court has reaffirmed that mental health is an integral part of the Right to Life under Article 21. In the Saha vs. State of Andhra Pradesh case, the Court mandated treating student mental health as a constitutional and institutional responsibility," Kumar said.

"Under Director Manindra Agarwal's tenure, both as Director and previously as Deputy Director, this is the ninth suicide at IIT Kanpur. The Ministry of Education must hold him accountable and terminate his directorship with immediate effect. Ramswroop's death isn't isolated; it's a symptom of systemic failure, academic pressure, isolation, and woefully inadequate support', Singh said.

The tragedy came at a time when the University Grants Commission (UGC) has released draft guidelines on a uniform policy for mental health and well-being in higher educational institutions (HEIs). Approved during its 594th meeting, the guidelines aim to create a standardized framework for counseling services, awareness programs, and support mechanisms across universities and colleges.

The UGC has opened a 15-day public consultation window, urging students, faculty, administrators, and civil society to submit feedback by January 29, 2026.