The situation is particularly grave among young adults. Pick up any newspaper and you are likely to encounter heartbreaking stories of youngsters across the country dying by suicide. These stories point to the immense pressures Indian youth face – to succeed academically, secure admission to prestigious institutions, clear highly competitive examinations and ultimately build a life that meets both their own ambitions and those of their families.

India’s examination system has, in recent years, been plagued by a series of controversies that have only added to these anxieties. The NEET-UG 2024 controversy, for instance, brought allegations of question-paper leaks and irregularities into the national spotlight. The UGC-NET examination was cancelled in June 2024 after the government said that its integrity may have been compromised. For students who spend months or even years preparing for a single examination, such disruptions can be devastating. A paper leak is not merely an administrative failure – it can undermine a student’s belief that hard work will be rewarded fairly, while leaving thousands questioning whether their futures are still within their control.

The case of Sahil Wakode, a 20-year-old IIT Bombay student, has brought another dimension of this pressure into focus. Wakode died by suicide after he was allegedly caught using a mobile phone during an examination. His death has since prompted questions about the way academic misconduct is handled and, more broadly, about the enormous pressure placed on students. The question, therefore, is not only whether India’s examination systems are fair and accountable, but whether we are doing enough to support young people whose futures are so often made to depend on India’s highly competitive educational system.

It is important, however, not to attribute Wakode’s death – or any suicide – to a single cause. Suicide is rarely the result of one factor. Academic stress combined with fear of failure, societal expectations, financial pressures, loneliness, substance abuse, fractured relationships and a host of deeply personal circumstances.

What these stories collectively reveal is the enormous emotional weight that many young people are carrying. Behind every examination statistic is a student, a family and a set of expectations. The question, therefore, is not only whether India’s examination systems are fair and accountable, but whether we are doing enough to support the young people whose futures are so often made to depend on them.