Student suicides reach record highs – 14 recorded in Kota

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Student suicides in India have reached an all-time high in 2022, according to reports by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). Suicides among students have increased by 4.5% compared to 2021. 14 of these deaths have been reported in Kota, Rajasthan, which is known for its coaching centres that help students prepare for competitive exams such as NEET, JEE Main, and IIT JEE (JEE Advanced).

Recently, three students from Kota took their own lives within 12 hours of each other. Two of these students were preparing for NEET and one was preparing for JEE Main. Including these three students, a total of 14 students have died by suicide while preparing for these competitive exams.

Kota SP Kesar Singh Shekhawat stated that the primary reason behind these suicides seems to be “exam stress.” The high pressure and demands of these exams can be overwhelming for students, and the stress of preparing for them at coaching centres in Kota has caused many parents to express concern about sending their children there.

According to the NCRB report, 864 students out of 10,732 took their own lives due to “failure in examination.” Kota had the highest number of recorded cases this year, followed by Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.