A tragic incident has shaken Rajasthan’s coaching hub of Kota, where a 16-year-old student from Bihar’s Nalanda, preparing for the Joint Entrance Examination (NEET) for engineering courses, was found dead in his paying guest accommodation. According to local police officer Mahendra Maroo, the student was discovered hanging from the ceiling fan after friends, concerned by his lack of response, alerted authorities and his younger brother, also preparing for NEET in Kota but residing separately.
The deceased had been studying at a Kota coaching center for about a year. Police broke open his door when attempts to contact him went unanswered. No suicide note was found, and the body was sent for autopsy while parents were notified. Police intend to inquire about any recent behavioral changes from family members.
This incident adds to a concerning trend 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, including three in the past month. Last year, 27 students took their lives, and in previous years, numbers ranged similarly high. The COVID-19 pandemic-related closures in 2020 and 2021 saw no suicides as coaching moved online or ceased.
In response to the alarming suicide rates, authorities mandated safety measures such as spring-loaded fans in hostels and increased mental health support for students. Last September, the Rajasthan government introduced additional initiatives aimed at preventing student suicides amidst the pressure-cooker environment of exam preparation.
This tragedy underscores ongoing concerns about the mental well-being of students in high-pressure academic settings and raises calls for sustained efforts to support their emotional health alongside academic pursuits.