A second-year student of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay died by suicide on Friday after being found using a mobile phone during an examination, according to the institute. The incident has since triggered protests on the Powai campus, with students demanding a transparent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death.

The student was enrolled in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering. According to an official statement from IIT Bombay, he had uploaded a photograph of the examination question paper to ChatGPT in an attempt to seek answers during the exam.

IIT Bombay Says No Disciplinary Action Was Initiated

Following the examination incident, the student was spoken to by the instructor and the Head of the Department, IIT Bombay said. The institute stated that he was counselled and assured that the incident would not adversely affect his academic career.

IIT Bombay further said that no formal disciplinary action had been initiated against the student at that point.

The student later returned to his hostel room, where he was subsequently found dead. The institute expressed its condolences and said that the circumstances surrounding the death were being examined by the appropriate authorities.

Students Protest at IIT Bombay

The student’s death led to a protest by hundreds of students at the IIT Bombay campus. Reports said more than 400 students gathered during the protest, while the ongoing mid-semester examinations were postponed. Students sought answers from the institute administration and called for a detailed investigation into the circumstances of the incident.

Students have also presented a different account of the events preceding the death, including allegations about possible disciplinary consequences. These claims differ from the institute’s official account and have not been independently established.

The protests continued into Saturday, with students seeking further communication from the administration. The student’s parents also joined the protest and demanded an explanation regarding the circumstances surrounding their son’s death.

IIT Bombay Says Authorities Are Investigating

IIT Bombay has said that it is extending support to the student’s friends, classmates, faculty members and others affected by the incident. The institute has also indicated that the circumstances surrounding the death are being looked into by the appropriate authorities.

The incident has renewed discussion on academic pressure, examination rules, the use of artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT in education, and the importance of student support systems on university campuses.

The investigation is ongoing, and the circumstances surrounding the student’s death have not been conclusively established.