New Delhi: In light of the recent speculative contents in some sections of the media following the tragic demise of student Shri Rishikesh Kumar on August 22, 2026, IIT Delhi issues this statement to clarify the facts surrounding the External Inquiry Committee’s report and outline the comprehensive reforms underway on campus.

The External Inquiry Committee, chaired by retired Delhi High Court judge Justice Mukta Gupta, which included a senior domain expert from AIIMS and two student representatives, submitted its report to the Institute. The committee has mandated that the report remain confidential. The committee’s recommendations focus essentially on systemic reforms in the mental health support system and related Institute systems.

An Internal Committee comprising the Deputy Director (Operations), Dean (Student Affairs), Dean (Academics), General Secretaries of the Student Affairs Council (SAC) and the Board of Student Welfare (BSW), and Assistant Registrar (Student Affairs) deliberated on each of the recommendations and formulated an operational roadmap for implementation and follow-up measures.

IIT Delhi has transparently shared all the recommendations of the External Inquiry Committee and proposed follow-up actions and the operational roadmap with all students, faculty, and staff on October 31, 2026.

The proposed action plan was discussed during the Student Affairs Council (SAC) meeting on November 3, 2026, where students’ inputs were directly integrated into a time-bound implementation plan. Accordingly, the key institutional initiatives currently being rolled out include:

• Extensive awareness campaigns: On mental health issues and substance-use laws.

• Expanding clinical care: Recruiting additional full-time clinical psychologists, counsellors, and visiting psychiatrists.

• Formalized Re-entry Protocols: Specialized counselling, academic coordination, and buddy networks for students returning from extended leaves of absence.

• Integrated Grievance Redressal: Instituting an independent Student Grievance Ombudsperson.

• A comprehensive review of the Mental Health Support System and Wellness Policy by an external committee comprising two senior mental health experts, one welfare professional, and two student representatives. The review will assess existing provisions, emergency-response protocols, referral mechanisms, and monitoring arrangements and suggest changes.

• Staff sensitization: Conducting mandatory empathy, soft-skills, and mental health workshops for administrative and hostel staff and faculty.

The Institute’s priority is to nurture an empathetic, transparent, and resilient campus environment. These structural reforms reflect IIT Delhi’s unyielding commitment to student welfare and continuous institutional improvement.