UGC Proposes Mandatory Mental Health Centres Following Supreme Court Directives on Student Well-being

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has proposed a draft policy mandating all higher education institutions (HEIs) to establish mental health and well-being centres, helplines, and peer support systems, seeking public feedback until January 28. This follows a Supreme Court order highlighting the mental health crisis amid rapid expansion of higher education, citing faculty shortages, rigid academic policies, and student distress. The court directed timely faculty appointments and scholarship disbursements to address systemic issues contributing to student suicides and mental health challenges.