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IIT-Bombay Reviews FR Grade After Student's Suicide: Key Rules Under Scrutiny
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News18•22-09-2026, 12:35
IIT-Bombay Reviews FR Grade After Student's Suicide: Key Rules Under Scrutiny
- •IIT-Bombay is reviewing its academic malpractice rules, specifically the 'FR' grade, following the tragic death by suicide of second-year BTech student Sahil Wakode.
- •The FR grade (Fail-Repeat) requires students to retake an entire course, significantly impacting academic standing; an FR2 grade for severe infractions includes a mandatory one-semester suspension.
- •Sahil Wakode was allegedly caught using ChatGPT during an exam; while students claim he was threatened with suspension, IIT-Bombay states no formal disciplinary action or FR grade was initiated before his death.
- •Student protests led to the postponement of exams, the removal of a Dean, and an FIR filed by Wakode's family, prompting the institute to re-examine its disciplinary frameworks.
- •The review aims to separate academic disciplinary actions from mental health support, with students demanding mandatory counseling for those facing exam confrontations.
Key Questions Answered
At IIT-Bombay, an "FR" grade stands for Fail-Repeat. It carries zero grade points and forces students to completely retake the course, causing drops in performance indices, credit caps, or academic probation.
Under IIT Bombay's guidelines, possession or use of unauthorized materials, mobile phones, or AI tools like ChatGPT during an exam triggers an FR 2 grade along with a mandatory one-semester academic suspension.
IIT-Bombay is reviewing its rules following the tragic death by suicide of student Sahil Wakode, which sparked massive student protests over the extreme psychological impact and severity of the institute's disciplinary frameworks.
