Concerns over caste discrimination, student welfare and institutional accountability have returned to the spotlight following the death of an IIT Bombay student, with allegations by his family prompting an investigation and renewed debate over the campus environment at India’s premier educational institutions. Sahil Wakode, a second-year BTech student at IIT Bombay, died by suicide on September 18. His family has alleged that he faced caste-based remarks and harassment on campus. Following their complaint, police registered a case and invoked provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The Mumbai Crime Branch is investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.
Wakode's family has said that he had spoken about caste-related comments and mental pressure. His father, Ravindra Wakode, has alleged that his son had experienced difficulties on campus and that the family had initially encouraged him to focus on his studies. The family has called for an investigation and action based on the findings.
IIT Bombay, however, has said that Wakode had not submitted a complaint concerning caste discrimination to the institute or its SC-ST cell. The institute has also maintained that the circumstances surrounding the student's death should be established through the ongoing investigation. The case has also drawn attention to IIT Bombay's earlier efforts to address caste-related discrimination. In 2024, an email circulated among students advised them against asking classmates about their admission category, JEE ranks or GATE scores. The institute had said that such questions could reveal a student's caste or reservation status and potentially contribute to discriminatory attitudes. Similar anti-discrimination guidelines had also been circulated previously.
The controversy has now expanded into a broader discussion about the experience of students from historically disadvantaged communities at India's most competitive educational institutions. While admission to institutions such as the IITs is widely regarded as a major achievement, questions remain about whether students from different social backgrounds experience campus life in the same way after entering these institutions.
The issue is particularly sensitive because academic pressure is already a significant feature of life at elite engineering institutions. Students face demanding coursework, examinations and intense competition. In individual cases, academic stress may exist alongside social or personal difficulties, making it important for investigations to examine the circumstances surrounding a student's death rather than attributing it to a single factor without evidence.
The Wakode case has also raised questions about the credibility of grievance mechanisms available to students. Institutions have systems through which students can report discrimination and other concerns, but their effectiveness depends on whether students know how to use them and have confidence that complaints will be handled fairly.
The debate comes amid wider efforts by Indian higher-education authorities to address discrimination and student welfare. The University Grants Commission has issued directions to higher educational institutions regarding measures to prevent caste-based discrimination and has called for mechanisms to receive and address complaints.
The Supreme Court has also raised concerns about student distress and the need for higher educational institutions to strengthen systems addressing discrimination, mental health and other factors affecting students. These developments have placed greater attention on how premier institutions respond when allegations of discrimination or harassment arise.
The Wakode case remains under investigation, and the allegations made by his family have yet to be conclusively established. The Crime Branch is examining the circumstances surrounding his death and gathering information from people connected with the case. The incident has nevertheless renewed questions about the relationship between academic excellence, social inclusion and student welfare at India's premier institutions. As investigations continue, attention is likely to remain focused on whether existing safeguards are sufficient and whether students from all backgrounds feel equally secure in approaching institutional authorities when they face difficulties.
For India's leading educational institutions, the discussion extends beyond admissions, examination results and placement figures. It also concerns whether students can pursue their education in an environment where concerns about discrimination are taken seriously and where grievance mechanisms are trusted by the students they are intended to protect.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Hindustan Times.
A Delhi Police head constable in plain clothes was allegedly assaulted during Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal’s visit to Tilak Nagar on Monday. The incident, which was recorded on camera, reportedly took place as the policeman was filming the proceedings on his mobile phone. Video footage from the spot shows the plainclothes officer being surrounded and confronted by people in the gathering. The situation reportedly turned physical, with the policeman being pushed and allegedly beaten before uniformed police personnel intervened and escorted him away from the crowd.
According to reports, the head constable was later medically examined. Police are looking into the circumstances surrounding the incident and may take further legal action after examining the available evidence and complaints. The incident occurred during Kejriwal’s visit to Tilak Nagar amid a political dispute over road construction in the area. Kejriwal, accompanied by AAP leaders including Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh and local MLA Jarnail Singh, visited the site to inspect a newly constructed road whose condition had become a subject of political criticism.
The visit followed a controversy involving Delhi Public Works Department Minister Parvesh Verma. A video circulating on social media showed Verma slapping a man during a road inspection in Tilak Nagar. AAP leaders criticised the incident and demanded action against the minister. Verma later said the footage did not show the complete context and alleged that the man had made abusive remarks about his family.
Police have received complaints connected with the earlier confrontation and are examining the matter. The alleged assault of the plainclothes policeman has now added another point of tension to the political dispute in the area. Since the latest incident was captured on video, investigators are expected to examine the footage along with statements from those present at the scene to determine exactly what happened. Police have not publicly established responsibility for the alleged assault at this stage. Any further legal action will depend on the outcome of the investigation and the evidence collected by authorities.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from NDTV.
Lovely Professional University (LPU) has suspended regular classes for 10 days and postponed its mid-term examinations following violent protests on the university campus in Phagwara. According to a university communication, classes will remain suspended from September 28, 2026, for 10 days. The mid-term examinations have been postponed until further notice, with the revised schedule expected to be communicated to students through the university’s management system.
The decision came after protests on Sunday escalated amid allegations concerning the sexual assault of a female student. The university has denied the allegation, calling the reports baseless and fabricated. Police, meanwhile, have registered a case against an unidentified person and begun an investigation into the claims.
The protests reportedly turned violent, with incidents of vandalism and damage to property. Demonstrators also blocked the national highway near the university, prompting the deployment of police personnel and efforts to restore traffic movement. Police have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the allegations. The inquiry is expected to examine available evidence and establish the facts surrounding the claims that led to the student protests.
LPU has advised students who remain on campus to stay inside their hostels or places of residence, avoid unnecessary movement and keep away from activities linked to the unrest. Students have also been allowed to travel to their hometowns during the 10-day suspension after consulting their parents or guardians.
The university has asked students to remain calm and follow official communications for further information about the resumption of classes and the new examination timetable. The situation remains under investigation, and authorities are expected to determine the facts behind the allegations as the probe progresses.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from NDTV.
A high-intensity explosion at a suspected illegal firecracker manufacturing unit in Bihar’s Araria district has left several people injured and caused significant damage to a residential property, police said. The blast took place at a house being allegedly used for firecracker-related activities. The explosion created panic in the surrounding area, while the impact caused structural damage to the building.
Police said the exact number of people injured in the incident has not yet been confirmed. Local reports indicated that several people may have been hurt, while authorities are working to establish who was present at the premises when the explosion occurred. Following the incident, police teams reached the location and began examining the damaged house. Officials are also investigating whether explosive or firecracker material was being manufactured or stored at the premises without the required permissions.
Authorities are expected to examine the debris and other evidence from the site to determine what triggered the explosion. The investigation will also focus on the nature and quantity of material reportedly kept at the property. The incident has once again highlighted the risks associated with unauthorised firecracker manufacturing and storage, particularly when such activities are carried out in or close to residential areas. Firecracker production involves combustible materials that require controlled handling and appropriate safety arrangements.
Police are continuing their investigation, while further details about the injured persons, the material involved and possible legal action are expected as officials complete their assessment of the site. The investigation is ongoing, and the final cause of the explosion and confirmed casualty figures are yet to be established.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Hindustan Times.
Congress workers held protests in several states on Monday against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, demanding his resignation over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. In Hyderabad, Telangana Congress leaders led a march to the Election Commission office, where party leaders said they would submit a complaint seeking action against Kumar. Congress MP Kiran Kumar Chamala alleged that voter names had been removed for political reasons and demanded the restoration of affected voters. Protests were also reported in Patna, Srinagar and Lucknow. Congress leader Pawan Khera accused the Election Commission of illegally conducting the SIR exercise and questioned changes related to Form 6. The Congress has called for Kumar’s removal, while its allegations over the electoral-roll revision remain part of an ongoing political dispute.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has announced a broad set of initiatives covering family support, housing, technology and Singapore’s national resilience. Hairianto Diman and Justine Moss speak to SMU School of Law Associate Professor Eugene Tan about the major measures, their significance for Singaporeans and what they reveal about the Government’s priorities for the country’s next stage of growth.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
Myanmar's military government has released rare images of detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi meeting a Red Cross official, marking her first known contact with the outside world since the 2021 coup. The photos were released just ahead of junta chief Min Aung Hlaing's first official visit to Thailand, prompting speculation about their political significance.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
In a conversation with political editor Tom McIlroy and chief political correspondent Dan Jervis-Bardy during the 50th Labor conference in Adelaide, South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas discussed his state’s political battle with One Nation. He said progressive groups should avoid dismissing or talking down to Pauline Hanson’s supporters, arguing that their concerns need to be understood rather than ignored. Addressing the ongoing debate over the AUKUS submarine deal, Malinauskas acknowledged concerns after the US revealed that Virginia-class submarine production rates had not improved. However, he maintained that walking away from the agreement would create greater strategic risks than the challenges surrounding the controversial defence partnership.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
On Made in SG, Melanie Oliveiro chats with Singaporean singer-songwriter Frances Tan, who recently competed in the Commonwealth Song Contest — an international music competition featuring participants from all 56 Commonwealth countries. Tan shares her experience of being chosen as a Grand Finalist, representing Singapore alongside six other finalist nations. She also discusses her original track, Just Me, which she submitted as her contest entry.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
