Tragic news out of Tamil Nadu has brought the pressures of educational examinations, particularly the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), back to the forefront as yet another student has succumbed to despair. Indhu, a 19-year-old resident of Tindivanam, took her own life out of fear of failing the NEET exam, reflecting harmful trends surrounding academic pressures faced by students today.
On March 1, 2025, Indhu was discovered hanging at her home. Her family, who had been working nearby, returned to find the young student alone and lifeless. Indhu had performed well academically, finishing her Class 12 from the local government school, but this did little to stabilize her mental health as she prepared for the prestigious NEET, which is mandated for admission to medical programs across India.
Indhu had competed last year, scoring 350 marks, which was insufficient for passing, leading to her subsequent preparation for this year’s test. Determined to succeed, she had even obtained her Other Backward Classes (OBC) certificate, submitted with her application for NEET. Her family's innocent belief on allowing her this chance was shattered on the day tragedy struck.
The police were notified around 11 p.m. on the very evening Indhu was found, initiating investigations to ascertain the circumstances surrounding her death. This heartbreaking incident continues to echo sentiments of anguish and concern as it closely resonates with past events. Just last October, another student, S. Punitha from Salem district, died by suicide after she too failed to secure admission to medical courses. Reports indicate she had undergone two full years of NEET coaching before her tragic end.
These recent events have reignited discussions beyond just individual sorrow, prompting macro-level perspectives on the NEET examination itself. The Tamil Nadu government has, for years, opposed NEET, citing it as discriminatory against poorer students and those taught in Tamil medium. This resentment boiled over when, following numerous controversies such as leaked question papers and delayed schedules leading up to the NEET-PG, the state assembly passed resolutions against the exam.
Echoing the mounting frustrations, the DMK, ruling party of Tamil Nadu, cited alarming statistics—claiming, “119 NEET aspirants had died by suicide over the past eight years,” spotlighting the dire need to address what many call the toxic environment surrounding these competitive exams. This sentiment was captured poignantly in Murasoli, the DMK's official newspaper, stating, “Scrapping NEET is the only way to prevent student suicides and eliminate incidents of cheating.”
Tamil Nadu’s legislative actions reflect both the urgency and the desperation felt by many across the state as NEET continues to set high stakes for aspiring medical students. Despite their pronounced commitment, the government faces significant challenges along with substantial public pressure to provide alternatives for admissions without the crushing burden of high-stakes examinations.
Interspersed with personal tragedies like Indhu’s, this broader backdrop highlights systemic issues impacting youth mental health, accentuating the powerful call for reform. Survivors, families, and advocates continue to speak out, urging educational reforms to embrace mental wellbeing alongside academic performance.
While individual stories of loss bring the statistics to life, they simultaneously call for monumental shifts within educational policies to mitigate future occurrences. Without substantive changes, students will remain vulnerable to the intense pressures associated with high-stakes tests like NEET.
Indeed, as this sorrowful chapter for families like Indhu’s continues to repeat itself, the question lingers: How many more lives need to be lost before systemic changes are not only talked about but enacted? Educators, lawmakers, and society must confront this urgent crisis, for the future of many aspiring medical professionals hangs precariously on these high-pressure assessments.