IIT Faculty Push for Clear Exam Malpractice Protocols After Student Death

Faculty members at several Indian Institutes of Technology have begun deliberating on formal protocols for handling examination malpractice, following the alleged suicide of an IIT Bombay student who was reportedly found using a mobile phone and ChatGPT during a test last week. The student, Sahil Wakode, is said to have died the same day.

The IIT Kharagpur Teachers Association, in a statement issued on Tuesday, described the incident as underscoring an urgent systemic need. It urged all IITs to frame clear and compassionate guidelines for dealing with malpractice, including cases involving unauthorised digital devices and generative AI tools. The association said any student reported for malpractice should immediately receive counselling and wellness monitoring, so that they are not left to face acute stress alone.

At IIT Delhi, the Faculty Forum is planning to seek a meeting with the institute's director. A professor associated with the forum said both teachers and students are part of the same family and such situations must be handled with care and sensitivity. The professor said a student should not be publicly humiliated and should receive proper counselling, while acknowledging that teachers too face a difficult position when carrying out invigilation duties. The forum is also considering requesting a senate meeting with the director, and stressed that greater involvement of faculty, parents and peers is important for ensuring students get adequate support and guidance.

Former IIT Delhi director V Ramgopal Rao came out in support of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, the invigilator who allegedly detected the violation. In a post on X, Rao said he was disturbed to see Doolla being vilified and described him as one of the finest faculty members in the IIT system and a person of high integrity. Rao said concerns raised should be examined fairly, adding that a public campaign against an individual serves no purpose.

Rao also proposed restructuring IIT BTech programmes into a flexible five-year format. He noted that IIT classrooms have become highly heterogeneous, bringing together students from an intensive coaching culture whose JEE Advanced ranks range from single digits to five digits, with language adding to the challenge. He suggested a model where students meeting credit requirements could still graduate in four years or earlier, while those needing additional academic support could spread their coursework over five years and access recorded lectures, online learning material and language support. The pace, he said, should be decided by performance within the IIT rather than admission category or entrance rank.

A senior faculty member at IIT Indore said similar discussions were underway there, with teachers emphasising the need for well-defined procedures. The professor said that while an invigilator is doing their job, students also need sensitisation, as young entrants come from different cities and take time to cope and adjust. Steps are being taken to counsel students and address challenges such as language barriers, including plans to engage counsellors who can interact with students in hostels, open homes and dining halls.

Mental health and wellness were discussed at the last IIT Council meeting in August 2025, where the council recommended creating a structured mental health cadre within IITs, with sanctioned posts for counsellors, psychologists and psychiatrists. The minutes noted that filling these positions, on a regular or contractual basis, would require creating sanctioned posts to ensure funding. IIT Gandhinagar was asked to refer to Rehabilitation Council of India guidelines while developing a framework for mental health professionals across the IITs.