IIT Delhi cancels one round of midterm exams to ease the pressure on students

According to institute director Rangan Banerjee, the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi has updated its evaluation process and eliminated a set of mid-semester tests to lessen the stress on students. The decision is made in light of a number of student suicide instances that have occurred at IITs, which have spurred discussion about the possible effects of the demanding course load and timetable on students' mental health.

In the past, we had two exams per semester, a final exam at the conclusion of each semester, and several continuing evaluation methods. We performed an internal survey, and we have decided to cancel one set of exams based on the responses from all students and faculty. Therefore, in addition to regular evaluations, there will now be two sets of exams, Banerjee told PTI in an interview.

Reason behind the decision

We made the decision to lessen student stress and strain since we thought the exam schedule was overly full. The Senate has also given its approval, and the decision will go into effect this semester. The weighted average for the two exams has been capped at 80%, he continued. At its meeting in April, the IIT Council concluded that strong grievance procedures, more psychological counseling services, and a reduction in student pressure, failure- and rejection-related anxiety are all necessary. The gathering covered a wide range of topics, including preventing student suicide, alleged prejudice, and student mental health.

IITs have reported the highest number of student suicide cases over the preceding five years, according to data disclosed before Parliament last month. IITs were home to at least 39 of the 98 suicide deaths that occurred in India's premier universities between 2018 and 2023. "IIT Delhi is pushing to strengthen some mentorship and interactive verticals, especially to encourage interactions with students outside the classrooms, preferably at an individual level," Banerjee said. "In addition to existing mechanisms to deal with stress and ensure mental well-being among the students."

Through the current Student-Teacher Interaction Program, "We are also increasing the frequency of 'open house' interactions with students in addition to the frequency of periodic informal dinners or meals between students and faculty in small groups." Through faculty mentorships that are both academic domain independent and academic domain dependent, the institute is also encouraging contacts between teachers and students.

Speaking of student suicides, Banerjee stated, "Students at IITs go through an incredibly competitive process and enter a classroom full of smart individuals.We need to be able to explain to people how to deal with failure; this is our main concern.

"We have expanded our counseling setup; in our hostels, we have both professional and student counselors." We want to keep tabs on pupils whose performance is declining so that they can receive the proper mentoring,'' he said. ''Any suicide is awful and it's heartbreaking for everyone,'' Banerjee added. We must establish a supportive environment so that students can contact someone and receive the appropriate counseling and mentorship if they are experiencing emotional or mental challenges. Last month, a 20-year-old IIT Delhi B Tech final-year student committed suicide in a dorm on campus.

The family of the deceased student has told us that he was dissatisfied with his performance in a few subjects during the most recent final-year exams, according to police officers looking into the issue.