A tragic incident has once again shaken Rajasthan’s Kota coaching hub. A 16-year-old student from Nalanda in Bihar, who was preparing for the Joint Entrance Examination (NEET) for engineering courses, was found dead in his paying guest accommodation.
According to the local police, the student was discovered hanging from the ceiling fan. His friends, concerned by his lack of response, alerted the authorities and his younger brother, who was also preparing for NEET in Kota but residing separately.
This incident adds to the concerning trend of students suicides in Kota. Known as India’s test-preparation capital with a lucrative ₹10,000 crore industry annually. The city draws students from across the country post-Class X for intensive coaching and school education, primarily for certification.
Suicides among students in Kota have been a recurring issue, with:
- 12 reported this year alone
- 27 students took their lives last year
- Similarly high numbers in previous years
The COVID-19 pandemic-related closures in 2020 and 2021 saw no suicides as coaching moved online or ceased.
Authorities have mandated safety measures such as spring-loaded fans in hostels and increased student mental health support. Last September, the Rajasthan government introduced additional initiatives aimed at preventing student suicides amidst the pressure-cooker environment of exam preparation.
This tragedy underlines ongoing concerns about the mental well-being of students in high-pressure academic settings and calls for continued efforts to support their emotional health alongside academic pursuits.
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