Kota, once renowned for its coaching centers in engineering and medical education, has sadly become known as a “suicide factory.” The city, which was once an educational hub, is now witnessing a distressing trend as students struggle with the overwhelming academic pressure.
Every year, more than 2 million students flock to Kota from across India, aspiring to excel in various competitive exams, including the prestigious MBBS. However, the harsh reality is that only half of them manage to secure seats in medical colleges. Subsequently, the struggle to outshine peers coupled with mounting exhaustion and despair takes a heavy toll. This isn’t merely a narrative of dashed hopes; it’s a grim actuality.
Recent years have seen a distressing surge in suicides, especially among students aged 15 to 17, attributed predominantly to academic stress. In a span of just 8 months, this year has witnessed the tragic demise of 20 students – a staggering statistic that demands attention.
Kota’s evolution from an industrial centre to an educational hotspot is remarkable. Acknowledging this transformative journey, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Kota as the “Education Capital.” Drawing students not only from India but also from abroad, the city’s coaching business rakes in over 3,000 crore rupees annually. While Bihar and Uttar Pradesh contribute a significant student population, Kota accommodates them with 7 major coaching centres and more than 4000 hostels and PG facilities.
Despite the city’s academic prestige, a dark cloud looms – the distressing trend of student suicides. Kota reports the highest number of suicides nationally, raising alarming questions about the mental well-being of its young learners.

Student suicide cases this Year
Jan 16, 2023: Ali Raja, UP, JEE prep, hung self; stopped coaching
Jan 31, 2023: Ranjeet Singh, Prayagraj, NEET prep; Mental stress, hung self
Feb 24, 2023: Abhishek, UP, stress, hung self; previous attempt, self-blame
May 9, 2023: Nasir, Bangalore, NEET stress; Jumped, exam result impact
May 12, 2023: Navlesh, Bihar, academic stress; Hung self, NEET prep
May 27, 2023: Sakshi, Rajasthan, self-hanging, suicide note self-blaming
June 27, 2023: Meheul, Rajasthan, NEET prep, hung self; recent relocation
July 17, 2023: Pushpendra, Rajasthan, NEET prep, hung self; recent move
Aug 5, 2023: Bhargav, Bihar, hanging, panic after another student’s suicide
Aug 10, 2023: Manish, UP, JEE prep, hanging; family met, news during journey
Overall reasons: Academic stress, exam results, peer pressure, mental health concerns