The National Task Force (NTF) on Mental Health of Students and Prevention of Suicides in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), conducted field visits to 30 HEIs across 10 States since May 2025, for enabling a deeper engagement with regional and institutional contexts. The Task Force also conducted 25 stakeholder consultations, to ensure an interdisciplinary and equity-oriented approach. Since January 2026, NTF completed additional consultations on the following themes:

• Students and Faculty with Disabilities
• Caste Discrimination in Higher Education
• Gender, Mental Health and Suicides
• Students from ST and OBC Communities
• Mental Health and Decriminalization of Suicide
• Gender Question in Student Suicides in Higher Education
• Consultations with Mental Health NGOs
• Consultation with Law Students

NTF was constituted by the Supreme Court of India on March 24, 2025 to address the rising incidence of student suicides and to examine mental health and well-being concerns among students in HEIs across the country. Vide order dated May 27, 2026, the Apex Court allowed NTF time till October 31, 2026 to file its Final Report. In compliance with the Supreme Court Order dated February 6, 2026, former Chief Statistician of India, Prof. T.C.A. Anant was also appointed as a Technical Consultant to the NTF to conduct a comprehensive and scientific analysis of survey data.

The primary remit of NTF is three-fold:

(i)  Identification of the predominant causes which lead to student suicides.

(ii) Analysis of relevant laws, policies, and institutional frameworks; and

(iii) Proposing necessary reforms to the existing legal and institutional frameworks to ensure stronger enforcement, accountability, and preventive measures including recommendations to address existing gaps, create a more inclusive and supportive academic environment, and ensure equal opportunities for members of marginalized communities.

The following documents are available on NTF’s official website (https://ntf.education.gov.in) under the ‘Press Releases and Announcements’ section:

• Interim Report (November 2025): The Report outlines the work undertaken by the NTF during the first phase of its mandate. It delineates the remit and methodology of the NTF, examines existing legal and policy frameworks in India as well as international practices and also makes some interim recommendations.
• Status Report (July 2025 and May 2026): The NTF's Status Report outlines the tasks undertaken by the NTF and provides updated figures on institutional field visits, stakeholder consultations, and online surveys filled by Higher Educational Institutions, students, parents, faculty and mental health professionals.
• Interim Orders: Interim Orders passed by the Supreme Court of India in the Amit Kumar & Ors. versus Union of India & Ors. [Criminal Appeal No. 1425 of 2025] have also been uploaded on the Website.

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RRTN