The hub of IIT and medical aspirants, Kota of Rajasthan, records another suicide case right after the announcement of the JEE Main Session 1 result on February 12 by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Despite efforts to prevent such incidents, the fourth student suicide this year has occurred in Kota, a popular destination for students to prepare for competitive exams.
Shubh Choudhary, a Jharkhand native preparing for JEE-Mains, tragically took his life after learning of his lower-than-expected exam score. His family has been notified, and authorities await their arrival for an autopsy.
Meanwhile, another student remains missing since Sunday, prompting a search operation, including the use of motorboats in the Chambal river.
Kota’s administration faces challenges in curbing student suicides, primarily driven by the stress of cracking IIT-JEE and similar exams. Despite issuing stress management guidelines for coaching centers, the suicide rate persists. Last year, Kota reported 26 student suicides, underscoring the urgent need for effective intervention strategies.
Shubh’s death is a sad reminder of the pressure students feel to succeed in exams. It also shows the challenges in keeping students safe and healthy, both mentally and physically, while they’re studying. It’s a problem that needs more attention and better solutions to prevent more tragedies like this.