In Brief
- IIT Bombay prepared a new draft of examination misconduct guidelines for Senate review following widespread campus protests over student treatment.
- A joint committee featuring equal faculty and student representation is developing new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that allow accused students to consult mentors and wellness advisors before facing formal disciplinary action.
- The institute is reviewing its stringent July 2026 regulations, including a mandatory one-semester suspension for cheating, to emphasize counselling and prevent public humiliation during exams.
IIT Bombay has formulated a new draft framework to overhaul its examination misconduct guidelines following the death by suicide of student Sahil Wakode after an alleged cheating incident. The move comes in response to intense campus protests and growing concerns from both faculty and students regarding how academic malpractice allegations are handled on campus.
Under the draft rules submitted for Senate review, the institute plans to replace rigid disciplinary measures with student-friendly Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Developed by a committee comprising equal student and faculty representation, the new protocol ensures that any student reported for exam copying receives immediate mental health counselling, wellness monitoring, and access to a designated mentor prior to disciplinary proceedings. Additionally, the Senate is evaluating whether to roll back or modify a harsh provision introduced in July 2026 that imposed automatic one-semester suspensions for academic dishonesty, aiming to safeguard student well-being without compromising academic integrity.
