IIT Bombay Rocked by Student Suicide After AI Cheating Row, Igniting Campus Protests

IIT Bombay is currently reeling from a student's suicide, Sahil Ravindra Wakode, who tragically died after being caught using ChatGPT during an exam. This heartbreaking event has triggered widespread student protests across the campus, demanding immediate accountability and transparency from the institute's administration. The incident has also forced the postponement of ongoing mid-semester examinations. The institute states no disciplinary action was taken against Wakode, claiming he was counselled and assured his academic career wouldn't be affected. However, protesting students are rejecting this narrative, alleging intense pressure and threats of a one-year academic suspension. This tragedy marks the third student suicide at IIT Bombay in just seven months, sparking urgent concerns over systemic academic pressure and inadequate mental health support at India's premier engineering institutions. The incident also intensifies the national conversation around academic integrity in the age of advanced Artificial Intelligence tools like ChatGPT. With police investigations underway and discussions between students and IIT Bombay Director Professor Shireesh Kedare continuing, the campus remains volatile. Students are calling for an independent committee to investigate the repeated suicides and for fundamental reforms in evaluation systems and teacher-student relationships. The outcome of these protests could shape future policies not only on academic honesty in an AI-driven world but also on prioritizing student well-being in high-pressure academic environments.