A second-year student of IIT Bombay’s Department of Energy Science and Engineering died by suicide on Friday evening, hours after an incident during an examination in which he was found using a mobile phone and ChatGPT.
The student’s death has raised concern on the Powai campus, with students staging a protest and seeking greater clarity about the circumstances surrounding the incident. The authorities are investigating the circumstances of the death.
IIT Bombay says student was counselled after exam incident
According to IIT Bombay, the student was found using a mobile phone during an examination earlier in the day. The institute said he had uploaded the examination question paper to ChatGPT in an attempt to obtain answers.
The institute said the matter was subsequently discussed with the student by the examination instructor and the Head of the Department.
IIT Bombay clarified that the student was counselled and told that the incident would not damage his academic career.
“No disciplinary action was initiated against the student. The matter was also discussed with the student by the instructor and the Head of the Department, who counselled him and assured him that the incident would not adversely affect his academic career,” the institute said.
Student later returned to hostel
Following the discussion with the faculty members, the student returned to his hostel room.
He was later found dead in his room on Friday evening, according to the institute and reports citing officials. IIT Bombay said the circumstances surrounding his death were being examined by the appropriate authorities.
The institute has not said that the examination incident caused the student’s death. The sequence of events is being investigated, and the available information does not establish a causal link between the two incidents.
Students protest on IIT Bombay campus
The student’s death led to a protest by students at the IIT Bombay campus. Reports said a large number of students gathered and sought answers from the institute administration about the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The ongoing mid-semester examinations were also reportedly postponed following the incident, according to The Indian Express.
The protest has brought renewed attention to concerns surrounding student wellbeing, academic pressure and the support available to students during difficult situations.
IIT Bombay expresses grief
IIT Bombay said it was deeply saddened by the student’s death and extended support to his friends, classmates, faculty members and others affected by the tragedy.
The institute reiterated that the appropriate authorities were examining the circumstances surrounding the death.
The incident comes amid wider concerns about student wellbeing at major educational institutions. However, the circumstances of this particular death remain under investigation, and any conclusions about what led to it would be premature.
