NationalMonday, 20 July 2026·The Hindu - National
CIC asks IITs to form high-level committees on student suicides; RTI and privacy issues highlighted
The CIC directed IITs to set up high-level committees after noting recurring suicides and privacy-related RTI disputes.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In July 2026, the Central Information Commission (CIC) directed IITs to constitute high-level committees to prevent recurring student suicides, after examining RTI appeals concerning IIT-Madras, IIT-Kanpur, IIT-Goa and IIT-Jodhpur.
Key specifics
- RTI Act, 2005 was invoked by alumnus Dheeraj Kumar Singh.
- IIT-Madras reported 7 suicides between 2019 and June 26, 2025.
- IIT-Kanpur reported 17 suicides between 2005 and 2025, with 3 cases in 2024.
- Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act was cited to withhold personal details.
- The CIC referred to the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
Exam lens
Question type: governance and legal provisions, RTI Act, Section 8(1)(j), Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, DPDP Act, 2023, CIC direction. TNPSC may ask which section protects personal information from disclosure.