Number of students committing suicides in India more than population growth rate: NCRB
Number of students committing suicides in India more than population growth rate: NCRB
Southern states have reported the highest proportion of student suicides
A recent report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), released on August 28, has raised serious concerns about the alarming rise in student suicides in India. Titled “Student Suicides: An Epidemic Sweeping India,” the report highlights that the rate of student suicides has outpaced both the population growth rate and the overall suicide trends in the country.
According to the report, student suicides have increased by four percent annually, compared to a two percent rise in overall suicides. Over the past decade, the number of student suicides has surged from 6,654 to 13,044, even though the population of individuals aged 0-24 decreased slightly from 582 million to 581 million.
The report, presented at the Annual IC3 Conference and Expo 2024, notes a significant decadal increase in student suicides, with approximately 104,000 cases recorded from 2013 to 2022—a 64 percent rise compared to the previous decade.
Southern states and union territories, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep, have reported the highest proportion of student suicides, accounting for 29 percent of the national total. Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand are particularly notable, as they collectively account for 49 percent of all student suicides in India. Rajasthan, particularly the Kota coaching hub, where many students relocate for competitive exams, ranks 10th with 571 student suicides.
The report also reveals that male students represented more than half (53 percent) of all student suicides in 2022. However, while male student suicides decreased by six percent from 2021 to 2022, female suicides increased by seven percent during the same period.
The report further emphasizes that the actual number of student suicides might be underreported due to social stigma and the criminalization of attempted and assisted suicide under Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code. This underreporting complicates efforts to fully understand and address the crisis.
