Do you know which state in the country has the highest number of students embracing death? The shocking NCRB statistics and the horrifying truth behind this depression that has spread to every corner of the country will be heart-wrenching.
Depression and suicide among students
Concerns about the mental health of students are growing across the country. According to a recent report released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), student suicides have seen a significant increase over the past decade. In 2024, a total of 14,488 students committed suicide across the country, an increase of nearly 80 percent compared to 2014. This figure is the highest in the last 10 years and has once again sparked a serious debate about the pressures on students due to academics, competitive exams, and family pressures.
Maharashtra has the highest number of cases
According to NCRB data, a total of 123,918 students committed suicide across the country in the 11 years between 2014 and 2024. Maharashtra alone accounted for the highest number of suicides, with nearly 17,000. Uttar Pradesh followed closely behind, with nearly 10,000. Maharashtra has consistently led the country in this number of cases for several years.
Which states have the most cases?
According to the report, the four states of Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu together account for nearly half of all student suicides nationwide. Significantly, most of these cases were found to be linked to areas with major coaching hubs, such as Kota in Rajasthan, Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune, where millions of students from across the country come to prepare for competitive exams.
What are the main reasons for suicide?
According to the NCRB report, family problems were the leading cause of suicide among students, followed by exam failure as the second most common cause. In 2024, a total of 2,032 suicides were attributed to exam failure alone, accounting for approximately 14 percent of all student suicides reported that year.
Why are the figures continuously increasing?
Looking at data from the past decade, the sharpest increase was recorded between 2019 and 2020, when cases jumped 21.2 percent. During these ten years, only 2022 saw a slight decline in suicide cases. Furthermore, in 2024, more than 10,295 children under the age of 18 died by suicide, indicating that this problem is not limited to college or older students, but is also deeply prevalent among schoolchildren.
What efforts are being made by the government?
In response to this growing problem, the central government launched the National Suicide Prevention Strategy in 2022, which aims to reduce the suicide rate in the country by 10 percent by 2030. Furthermore, in coaching hubs like Kota, the administration has established facilities for students, such as counseling centers, helpline numbers, and regular mental health checkups, so that students experiencing stress can receive timely and appropriate support.
