UGC Mandates Mental Health Support in All Higher Education Institutes | India's Young Minds First Priority
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In a landmark move, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued draft guidelines requiring all higher educational institutions to establish dedicated mental health and well-being centres and committees. The rules aim to make institutional mental health support compulsory across campuses, marking a significant shift in the country's approach to student mental health. The guidelines, prepared following a Supreme Court judgement, aim to create a uniform and enforceable framework for student mental health. As per the rules, every institution must appoint at least one mental health professional for every 100 students and operate a 24x7 helpline linked to national mental health helplines. The draft guidelines, open for public consultation until January 29, 2026, also require institutions to display contact details for mental health professionals and helplines prominently across campuses and hostels. The centres will provide counselling, early screening, crisis intervention, and referral services, while upholding student privacy and confidentiality. The move is seen as a response to the rising number of student suicides and institutional failures to provide timely support. The UGC chairperson, Vineet Joshi, emphasized that the guidelines will help mainstream mental health and well-being into the everyday functioning of higher education institutions. The guidelines also call for awareness programmes, peer-support systems, faculty gatekeeper training, mindfulness sessions, and parent sensitisation initiatives to build a sustainable and inclusive mental health ecosystem. The UGC will monitor compliance through a dedicated digital portal and annual reports from institutions. The new rules aim to shift universities from a reactive stance to a proactive, preventive, and participatory mental health approach. By prioritizing student mental health, the UGC hopes to create a healthier and more supportive learning environment for India's young minds.
