India sets up panel after IIIT Ranchi student's death

Three specialists will examine the incident and student support systems at the Indian Institute of Information Technology in Ranchi. The cause of death remains undetermined.

The Education Ministry announced the committee on October 13. Rajni Abbi, director of Delhi University's South Campus, will chair it alongside a senior psychiatrist and a senior ministry officer.

The panel will examine implementation of existing guidelines, basic facilities, counselling and mentoring, institutional support and student grievance procedures. It will review records, meet stakeholders and recommend measures to address any systemic gaps it identifies.

The ministry is also preparing interim administrative arrangements to keep the institute functioning with students' interests in mind. A first-year student was found dead in his hostel room late on October 10. Police said he was from Bihar's Bhagalpur district. Establishing the committee does not determine the cause of death or staff responsibility.