Delhi has turned into the suicide capital of India, reporting the highest number of suicides — 2,905 — among the country’s 53 metropolitan cities, according to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data for 2024. The national capital was followed by Bengaluru with 2,403 deaths and Mumbai with 1,406.
In terms of suicide rate — the number of suicides per one lakh population — Delhi ranked as the second worst among States and Union Territories at 17.8, while Bengaluru recorded 28.3.
Data also showed that students accounted for a significant share of suicides in Delhi. Of the total suicides recorded in the capital, 13.01% involved students — the highest proportion among all States and Union Territories. Madhya Pradesh followed closely at 13%, Maharashtra at 8.6%, and Tamil Nadu and Karnataka at 6.4% each.
Campus deaths
Similar trends emerge in data related to suicides in central universities and institutes. According to a Lok Sabha reply from 2023, central institutions in Delhi — IIT Delhi, NIT Delhi, AIIMS Delhi, the University of Delhi, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University, and the Central Sanskrit University — recorded a total of 14 suicides between 2018 and 2022.
Data tabled in the Rajya Sabha also showed that 98 students died by suicide in higher educational institutions across the country between 2018 and 2023, with 39 of these cases reported from the IITs.
The NCRB recorded more than 13,000 student suicides nationwide in 2021. By 2022, student suicides accounted for 7.6% of all suicides in the country. In 2024, the number rose to 14,488, while the national average share of student suicides increased to 8.5%.
The primary causes among those below 18 years of age remained examination failure and family-related issues, while cases involving those in the 18-30 age group were also linked to marital problems.
Recent cases
Earlier in March, a first-year student at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi was found dead in his campus residence in what authorities described as an apparent suicide.
The 19-year-old was found at the New Vindhyachal Apartments by security personnel after his mother, who was travelling in Rajasthan, became concerned when he stopped answering calls. Although no note was recovered, preliminary police inquiries suggested that he may have been struggling with depression. Despite his father stating that no foul play was suspected, police initiated an investigation under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita to determine whether any abetment was involved.
In a separate incident, a 16-year-old student of St Columba’s School was found dead by suicide in November 2025. The case was later transferred to a Special Investigation Team (SIT).
A search of the student’s belongings reportedly uncovered a note naming three teachers and alleging systemic mistreatment. This, coupled with pressure from parents and educators, led to a government-ordered inquiry by the SIT.
Probe findings
The resulting report, which was not initially made public, described the conduct of certain staff members as “heartless and insensitive”. Investigators referred to an incident in which teachers allegedly mocked the student after he fell in front of classmates, causing humiliation.
The inquiry concluded that the school lacked a robust framework for monitoring staff behaviour or supporting student well-being. However, the student’s father has expressed frustration over the perceived lack of police action, while authorities are yet to issue a formal response to the allegations.
Apart from student suicides, NCRB statistics indicate a marginal decline in overall suicides in Delhi, with figures falling from 3,417 in 2022 to 3,131 in 2023. In 2024, the total stood at 2,905.
Men accounted for the majority of cases at around 71.5%, while women represented 28.4% and transgender persons 0.1%. Family-related grievances emerged as the leading cause, followed by marital disputes and unemployment-related distress.
Economic profile
Occupational and economic data highlighted a significant concentration of cases among lower-income groups. More than 90% of those who died earned less than Rs 5 lakh annually, while those earning over Rs 10 lakh a year represented the smallest category.
Among those who died by suicide, unemployment was a major factor, though the data also included a substantial number of daily wage labourers, homemakers, and self-employed persons.
Marital status also emerged as a significant demographic factor, with over 55% of those who died being married. This included 1,162 men and 454 women. Unmarried individuals accounted for 821 cases, while the remaining cases involved widowed, divorced, or legally separated individuals.
Regarding educational background, most individuals had completed schooling up to Class X or XII. A smaller but notable proportion included university graduates, along with 310 individuals who had received no formal schooling, suggesting that such deaths cut across educational backgrounds despite the concentration among lower-middle-income groups.
