In a significant move to mainstream mental health support in India’s universities and colleges, the University Grants Commission (UGC) on Wednesday issued draft guidelines requiring all higher educational institutions (HEIs) to establish dedicated mental health and well-being centres and monitoring committees. The draft, titled the Uniform Policy on Mental Health and Well-Being for Higher Educational Institutions, marks a major step toward institutionalising mental health support across campuses.

The guidelines were framed in response to the Supreme Court judgment in Sukdeb Saha vs State of Andhra Pradesh (2025), which highlighted rising student suicides and institutional failures to provide timely mental health support. The court directed the Union government to formulate a national policy to address these concerns. In line with this, the UGC’s draft lays out a framework to ensure proactive, preventive, and comprehensive mental health care in higher education.

Key Provisions of the UGC Draft Guidelines

1. Mandatory Mental Health Centres: Every HEI must set up a “mental health and well-being centre” as the primary hub for student psychological support. These centres will provide counselling, early screening, crisis intervention, referral services, and awareness programs, while upholding privacy and confidentiality.
2. Monitoring Committees: Institutions are required to establish a “mental health and well-being monitoring committee” to oversee the implementation of policies, ensure ethical practices, and report anonymised data to the UGC.
3. Qualified Personnel: The draft mandates one qualified clinical psychologist, counsellor, or mental health professional per 100 students, addressing long-standing gaps in access to mental health services within universities and colleges.
4. 24×7 Helpline Services: All institutions must operate a round-the-clock helpline for student grievances and psychosocial concerns, integrated with national mental health helplines.
5. Crisis Response and Suicide Prevention: HEIs must develop crisis response protocols, suicide prevention infrastructure, and post-crisis reintegration plans for students, ensuring timely intervention in emergencies.
6. Awareness and Education Initiatives: The guidelines emphasise peer-support systems, faculty gatekeeper training, mindfulness sessions, and parent sensitisation programs. Institutions are expected to conduct regular workshops and campaigns to reduce stigma around mental health and encourage early help-seeking behaviour.
7. Transparency and Accessibility: Contact details of mental health professionals and helpline numbers must be prominently displayed across campuses and hostels.
8. Monitoring and Compliance: UGC will oversee compliance through a dedicated digital portal and annual reporting by institutions.

Vision Behind the Guidelines

UGC Chairperson Vineet Joshi emphasized the holistic purpose of the policy: “Higher education must prepare our young students not only for careers, but for life. The well-being and mental health of students, faculty, and staff are fundamental to teaching, learning, and institutional excellence.” He added that the guidelines provide a practical, actionable framework to integrate mental health into the day-to-day functioning of HEIs.

The draft policy aims to shift the approach to mental health from reactive to proactive, promoting prevention, early intervention, and participatory care. By institutionalising support, the UGC seeks to ensure that students can access mental health resources before crises emerge, rather than relying solely on emergency interventions.

Public Consultation and Feedback

The UGC has opened the draft for public consultation, inviting feedback from stakeholders until January 29, 2026. The feedback will help refine the guidelines and ensure their practicality and effectiveness across diverse higher education settings in India.

Importance and Impact

The initiative addresses multiple challenges faced by Indian higher education institutions:

• Rising Student Mental Health Concerns: Studies and court judgments have repeatedly highlighted the need for structured mental health support, with student suicides and stress-related issues increasing across campuses.
• Limited Access to Professionals: Many universities and colleges lack trained psychologists or counsellors. The requirement of one professional per 100 students aims to fill this critical gap.
• Integration with National Frameworks: Linking campus helplines to national mental health services ensures standardised, reliable support.
• Holistic Well-Being Ecosystem: By including awareness programs, peer support, mindfulness sessions, and faculty training, the policy encourages a sustainable mental health culture on campuses.

Experts note that the proactive approach outlined in the draft could transform student experiences, ensuring well-being is treated as an integral component of academic life, alongside intellectual and professional growth.

Future Outlook

Once finalised, these guidelines could reshape mental health governance in Indian higher education, creating a national standard for institutions across states and university types. The initiative aligns with global best practices, where comprehensive student well-being frameworks are increasingly considered critical for learning outcomes and institutional success.

The policy also signals an important recognition: mental health is not ancillary to education—it is central to the overall development of students, faculty, and staff. Through consistent implementation, training, and oversight, the UGC aims to reduce the incidence of mental health crises, promote resilience, and foster inclusive educational environments.

With the draft open for consultation, HEIs, mental health professionals, students, and parents have an opportunity to contribute to shaping a nationally uniform framework that addresses one of the most pressing challenges in higher education today.

The UGC’s move could potentially set a precedent in Asia, making India one of the first countries to mandate institutionalised mental health support across all higher educational institutions, ensuring that mental well-being becomes an inseparable part of academic life.

Deadline for Feedback: January 29, 2026.

Key Takeaway: The UGC draft guidelines establish mental health and well-being centres in all universities and colleges, with adequate staffing, 24×7 helplines, crisis management protocols, and preventive measures, aiming to build a holistic, proactive, and participatory mental health ecosystem for students, faculty, and staff nationwide.