1,166 Medical Students Dropped Out, 119 Died by Suicide in India Over Five Years: Reveals RTI Data

The NEET UG 2025, scheduled for May 4, 2025, has seen approximately 23 lakh students registered, competing for roughly 1.20 lakh MBBS seats. This creates a high-stakes environment where the fear of failure is pervasive.

A recent Right to Information (RTI) response from the National Medical Commission (NMC) has exposed a distressing crisis in India’s medical education system: over the past five years, 1,166 medical students have dropped out of their programs, and 119 have tragically died by suicide.

The data, collected from 512 medical colleges across the country, underscores the intense pressures faced by aspiring doctors, sparking urgent calls for reform.

Breakdown of the RTI Findings

The RTI reveals that of the 119 suicides, 64 were undergraduate (MBBS) students, and 55 were postgraduate (MD/MS) students. The dropout figures include 160 undergraduate students and 956 postgraduate students, with the highest dropout rate among MS (Master of Surgery) students, totaling 114 cases. These numbers may be conservative, as they rely on self-reported data from institutions and may not account for unreported suicides or those misclassified under other causes.

Social media discussions have described medical colleges as environments marked by harassment and toxicity, attributing student distress to intense competition, faculty shortages, and limited mental health support. While these sentiments reflect real concerns, they remain anecdotal and require further investigation to confirm widespread systemic issues.

Systemic Pressures in Medical Education

India’s medical education system, particularly for students preparing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), is notoriously demanding. The NEET UG 2025, scheduled for May 4, 2025, has seen approximately 23 lakh students registered, competing for roughly 1.20 lakh MBBS seats. This creates a high-stakes environment where the fear of failure is pervasive.

Recent incidents highlight the crisis. In Kota, Rajasthan, a NEET aspirant’s suicide marked the ninth such case in the coaching hub this year. Similarly, a second-year MBBS student in Ahmedabad and a final-year student in Kota took their lives, pointing to ongoing mental health challenges. Surveys indicate that student suicides have nearly doubled over the past decade, with a significant portion of students reporting suicidal thoughts due to academic pressure, sleep deprivation, and fear of failure.

Reports also suggest that toxic cultures may extend beyond students to faculty, with allegations of humiliation and stress contributing to mental health struggles across the system. These cases underscore the need for better support mechanisms in medical education.

Calls for Reform and Mental Health Support

The RTI findings have intensified demands for change. In March 2025, the Supreme Court formed a National Task Force to address rising student suicides in higher education, emphasizing the need for on-campus mental health resources. Advocates are calling for mandatory counseling, stress management programs, and stricter anti-harassment policies in medical colleges. Proposals to address faculty shortages, which exacerbate student stress due to inadequate mentorship, are also under consideration.

Social media voices have highlighted the prevalence of anxiety and depression among medical students, urging stakeholders to tackle root causes beyond reporting statistics. However, the lack of comprehensive data on suicide attempts or unreported mental health struggles limits a full understanding of the crisis’s scope.

The RTI revelation serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of India’s medical education system. As 23 lakh students prepare for NEET UG 2025 on May 4, 2025, and others gear up for CUET UG 2025 starting May 8, the mental well-being of aspirants remains a critical concern. The NMC, NTA, and educational institutions must prioritize mental health infrastructure, creating environments where students can seek help without fear of judgment. Until these changes are implemented, the loss of 119 lives and the dropout of over a thousand dreams will continue to weigh heavily on India’s medical education landscape.

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