nibeditasedinboxcomDeath of student at IIT Bombay, apparently the third suicide case on the IIT campus this year, has reignited debates about the cost of academic pressure on students at the country’s premier engineering institutes. But the psychological impact of clearing highly competitive examinations has had limited discussion, beyond the context of coaching towns like Kota.
The pressure builds in more ways than one, as an analysis of the circumstances of student deaths suggests. According to information collated via RTI and media reports, 171 students died due to suicide or other ‘unusual’ circumstances at different IITs between 2006 and 2026, 120 of which were in the last decade.
But what does it mean to a student, if their success in life is measured by their success in academics – and more specifically, a highly competitive exam?
When achievement becomes identity
Indian students view the IIT entrance examination as more than an academic test. It is a barometer of achievement. Success in the test would mean that the student has ‘made it’ – and years of hard work would have paid off. And failure would mean that they have not.
This binary can be extremely damaging to the student’s psychological well-being. It creates a situation wherein achievement in academics becomes the sole determinant of self-worth.
The student who has worked hard and cleared the test, then, finds herself in a new predicament. She is now a “success” – and expected to perform equally well in the IIT as well.
The competition in IITs is reportedly fierce – in addition to the academic strain, a student faces pressure to conform to a certain lifestyle, an uncertain career path, comparisons to peers and other extracurricular pressures. It is extremely taxing, especially for a teenager. If she has been conditioned to view the IIT seat as the ‘best thing that could have happened to her’, she is likely to find it challenging to grapple with her new reality.
The pressure to succeed begins as soon as the student enters the IIT. Inexperienced and unprepared, she is now competing against some of the brightest young minds in the country – and the pressure to not fall behind can be extremely taxing.
But the problem with competition in academics is not the competition itself. Students need a goal to strive for. But when success in academics becomes the sole determinant of self-worth and self-esteem, it can be a recipe for disaster.
The IIT advantage – and its psychological cost
There is no doubt that the IIT tag is a boon in terms of early-career prospects. As per IIT Bombay’s 2024-25 placement report, 1,422 students accepted job offers, with an average package of approximately Rs 26.5 lakh per annum, and 705 students accepting offers of more than Rs 20 lakh. This places IIT Bombay among the top recruiters in the country.
Hence, it is easy to understand why students and parents see an IIT seat as an invaluable asset. But it is a fallacy to believe that a ‘good’ first job defines one’s entire earning potential over a lifetime.
As careers progress, more and more Indian graduates are proving that success is not defined by their first job offer – or the package they receive. Students from non-IIT backgrounds have carved successful careers for themselves as entrepreneurs, researchers, scientists and more. India’s startup ecosystem thrives on such talent – and successful startups have sprung up across the country, irrespective of the educational background of their founders. In fact, many of India’s largest and most successful organizations were founded by people who did not graduate from the country’s ‘top’ educational institutions.
This is an important point to drive home to young students – the fact that while an IIT tag certainly helps one’s earning potential, it is not a requirement to build an impactful, successful and rewarding career.
The psychology of the “elite college” syndrome
Perhaps the most insidious impact of the glorification of an IIT seat is on the young student’s psyche.
An IIT seat has become a coveted prize – not just for students, but for families as well. Families that invest heavily in coaching institutes and tuition fees for years feel that their ‘dream’ is coming true when their child clears the examination – and they may be harshly dismissive of the child’s feelings. A child who scores low and fails to clear the test, on the other hand, may feel as if they have ‘disappointed’ their parents – and themselves.
For teenagers whose self-esteem is still in its formative years, such behaviour can have a damaging impact. Their view of success and failure gets deeply ingrained in their minds – as ‘failure’ to achieve good marks is associated with ‘failure’ as a person.
Similarly, a student inside the IIT may find it challenging to adjust to the competition and pace of life. While she may have been one of the ‘top scorers’ in her state or country, she may find that inside the IIT, she is no longer among the best.
For some students, this can be extremely disheartening – leading to episodes of depression, imposter syndrome or low self-worth. After all, what is “success” if not being able to stand among the best? Without this belief in one’s success, what else can the student strive for?
Is the degree worth the pressure?
An IIT degree opens many doors for a young graduate – far more opportunities than a student from a non-‘prestige’ institute. But the question is whether it is worth the psychological cost.
An IIT degree provides networking opportunities, better job prospects and far greater job security in times of a recession. But these do not make up for the loss of a young life – or the mental health struggles of students who have failed to meet the standards of their families and society.
The issue is not with the value of an IIT degree – it is with the undue pressure that is placed on students to obtain one. Society should not put unrealistic expectations on students and force them to take up degrees that require an untenable amount of their time and mental health.
The fact that an IIT degree could provide opportunities for a successful and rewarding career is indisputable. But one’s happiness and mental well-being should not be viewed as a trade-off for a ‘prestige’ degree.
The fact is that the ‘best’ colleges would prepare a student for the challenges of her chosen field – and beyond. But a student deserves to choose her own path, based on her own interests and aspirations. And it is the onus of society to support her in doing so.
The psychological burden of IITs
The pressure on students in IITs is a symptom of a far greater problem in Indian education and society – the undue emphasis on grades and achievements that disregards the mental health of the student. But it is also a matter of rethinking what defines ‘success’ and ‘achievement’.
An IIT seat is a coveted prize, which provides a student with countless opportunities in her early career. But a student who fails to clear the test, or a student who struggles inside the IIT, does not deserve to despair over her achievements or fail to recognize her own self-worth.
Young students need to be equipped with coping strategies to deal with the pressure of high-achieving academic environments – and families need to be made aware of the importance of not viewing the student as a ‘failure’. Most importantly, young adults need to realize that their self-worth is not defined by their achievements – academic or otherwise.
IITs are a blessing for many – but students need to choose their path carefully, knowing that no degree defines their future.
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