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India exam-induced student suicides

Updated 4 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-08-26 12:46 UTC → 2026-08-27 08:56 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In late July 2024, the death of 19-year-old Ankita Sangle in Maharashtra after scoring far below her expectations on the NEET exam reignited public concern over the mental-health impact of high-stakes competitive exams in India. Sangle, from Jalalpur village, was found dead by hanging; a suicide note she left expressed gratitude to her family and stated they were not responsible. The incident has been linked to broader anxieties following NEET paper-leak controversies. Two days later, similar tragedies occurred in Telangana. In Warangal, 19-year-old NEET aspirant P Krishnaveni died after ingesting weedicide; despite scoring 407/720, she feared she would not secure a medical seat. In the nearby Gadwal district, an 18-year-old intermediate student committed suicide after a lecturer allegedly insulted him publicly over his marks. Police filed an abetment-of-suicide case against the teacher. In early August 2024, a 19-year-old NEET aspirant in Hyderabad allegedly died by hanging at a coaching center in Kanuru. The student had reportedly expressed distress to her parents regarding the difficulties of studying far from home. These continuing incidents underscore that intense academic competition, perceived humiliation by educators, and the pressure of medical entrance results continue to fuel mental-health crises among students across various Indian states. In August 2026, further deaths were reported. In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, 19-year-old Suraj Subhash Shinde died by suicide in Khandala village after receiving low NEET marks. He left a note apologizing to his parents, stating, ‘Sorry Ai and Appa, I will become a doctor for you in the next birth.’ On August 25, 2026, 20-year-old Khushbu Patel, a medical aspirant from Madhya Pradesh, died by suicide at her rented residence in Kota, Rajasthan. While no suicide note was recovered, reports suggest she may have been distressed following a previous NEET-UG score of approximately 450 marks. This incident marks the eighth reported suicide involving a coaching student in Kota since January 2026.

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