Two Students Commit Suicide In Rajasthan's Kota Within 24 Hours; Sixth Case This Month

Rajasthan’s Education Minister, Madan Dilawar stated on Tuesday that the increasing cases of student suicides in Kota are due to academic pressure and unrealistic expectations placed on children.

Two students committed suicide in the Kota district of Rajasthan on Wednesday. The identified deceased were Afsha Sheikh (23), a young woman from Ahmedabad in Gujarat, and Parag from Nagaon, Assam.

Afsha was staying at Pratiksha Residency and had travelled to Kota to study for the NEET exams (for admission to a medical college). She was found hanging herself from a ceiling fan in her PG accommodation. Whereas, Parag was staying in the Mahaveer Nagar area of the city and had been living in Kota for two years.

Despite guidelines, no hanging prevention device was installed on the fan. So far the total number of incidents concerned, a total of six students have committed suicide in Kota in January 2025 alone.

It begins with 19-year-old Neeraj, a JEE aspirant, who died on January 7. Within 24 hours, a second case surfaced with the death of 20-year-old Abhishek, also preparing for the JEE exam.

On January 16, the body of 18-year-old Abhijeet, an aspiring doctor, was discovered. Just a day later, 18-year-old Manan Sharma took his own life, just four days before his JEE examination.

Rajasthan’s Education Minister Reacts To Incidents

Reacting to the incident, Rajasthan’s Education Minister, Madan Dilawar stated on Tuesday that the increasing cases of student suicides in Kota are due to academic pressure and unrealistic expectations placed on children. In a statement, he said, “This situation arises due to the pressure of studies and expecting more from children than they can handle. Parents need to understand the mental state of their children.”

He made these remarks while addressing the Jaipur Education Summit, where over 500 students actively participated. The students raised various educational concerns and shared their issues with the minister.

Dr. Renu Joshi, the principal of a private college, emphasised the need to include moral education in the curriculum. Women’s rights activist Dr. Mamta Sharma highlighted the importance of focusing on students’ mental health.