The reported deaths of 12 aspiring medical students in India have exposed the immense pressures of the country's high-stakes examination system and a worsening mental-health crisis. The students died by suicide in the days following the controversy over the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).

18-year-old Nelima Patel was forced to retake the exam after the original test in May was canceled over suspicions of question leaks. She described feeling mentally drained and upset after learning of a fellow student's suicide just days before the retake.

Over 2.27 million candidates are competing for roughly 130,000 medical undergraduate seats across India, meaning fewer than one in 17 can secure a place. Families often take out massive loans to fund years of expensive coaching institute fees.

India recorded 14,488 student suicides in 2024, a 4.3% increase from the previous year, according to the National Crime Records Bureau. Neuropsychiatrist Anjali Nagpal criticized a culture where success is narrowly celebrated and failure stigmatized.

India's Supreme Court has identified a 'disturbing pattern' of student distress and mandated a national task force. The task force cited extreme academic competition, caste-based discrimination, financial stress, and inadequate mental health support as key factors.

The NEET controversy has also sparked political action. The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) is demanding 10 million rupees (€92,418) in compensation for each family of the deceased students and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. CJP chief Abhijeet Dipke highlighted that some families had taken loans to educate their children.

Source: www.dw.com