IIT Bombay tells campus: don't ask peers about caste, JEE ranks
By TUF News Desk · Published 16 October 2026 · 3 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
On an IIT campus, “What’s your rank?” works as an icebreaker in the first week. At IIT Bombay, that question is now officially off limits.
On Tuesday, October 13, the institute’s Office of the Dean of Student Affairs emailed a set of anti-discrimination guidelines to the campus. The message advises students, faculty members and staff not to ask fellow students about their birth or admission category, or about details such as JEE Advanced ranks and GATE scores, where the answers could reveal caste and lead to what the guidelines call conscious or subconscious bias.
The guidelines say the questions are inappropriate even when they come from simple curiosity. They also prohibit the exchange or forwarding of abusive, hateful, casteist or sexist messages, along with bigotry based on religion or sexual orientation, across WhatsApp, Facebook, email and in-person conversation, warning that such messages could amount to harassment or bullying and that violations can lead to severe punishment. Instead, the institute encourages students to bond over departments, sports, music, films, hometowns and hobbies, and states its aim is a campus where students interact freely irrespective of caste, religion or socio-economic background.
Why the reminder came now
The email follows the death of Sahil Wakode, 22, a second-year BTech student, who was found dead in his hostel room on September 18. According to multiple reports, he died hours after allegedly being caught using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination. His parents alleged that he faced caste-based harassment by a faculty member and filed a complaint; an FIR has been registered and the case is being investigated, with the Mumbai Crime Branch handling the probe according to the Times of India.
The Indian Express reported that police questioned the professor named in the family’s complaint for nearly 10 hours earlier this month. The allegations remain subject to investigation. Students have been protesting near the institute’s main gate in the weeks since the death.
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Third time these guidelines have gone out
This is not a new policy. IIT Bombay first issued such guidelines on July 31, 2023, after the death of 18-year-old first-year student Darshan Solanki, and circulated them again in 2024. The October 13 email is the third reminder, according to the Times of India.
Separately, the institute resumed its mid-semester examinations on October 10 and 11, with students and invigilating teaching assistants asked to report half an hour early, leave phones and bags outside the exam building, and expect checks for unauthorised material, the Indian Express reported.
Official institute announcements appear on the IIT Bombay website.
Frequently asked questions
What do IIT Bombay’s new anti-discrimination guidelines say?
They advise students, staff and faculty not to ask peers about their caste, birth, admission category, JEE Advanced ranks or GATE scores, and prohibit abusive or casteist messages on WhatsApp, email and in person.
Why did IIT Bombay issue the guidelines now?
The email went out on October 13, about a month after second-year student Sahil Wakode died on September 18. His parents alleged caste-based discrimination by a faculty member; the case is under police investigation.
Is this the first time IIT Bombay has issued such guidelines?
No. Similar guidelines were first circulated on July 31, 2023 after the death of first-year student Darshan Solanki, and again in 2024. This is the third reminder.
Where can students read official updates from the institute?
Official announcements appear on the institute website, and violations of the guidelines can be reported through the Dean of Student Affairs office.
Frequently asked questions
What do IIT Bombay's new anti-discrimination guidelines say?
They advise students, staff and faculty not to ask peers about their caste, birth, admission category, JEE Advanced ranks or GATE scores, and prohibit abusive or casteist messages on WhatsApp, email and in person.
Why did IIT Bombay issue the guidelines now?
The email went out on October 13, about a month after second-year student Sahil Wakode died on September 18. His parents alleged caste-based discrimination by a faculty member; the case is under police investigation.
Is this the first time IIT Bombay has issued such guidelines?
No. Similar guidelines were first circulated on July 31, 2023 after the death of first-year student Darshan Solanki, and again in 2024. This is the third reminder.
Where can students read official updates from the institute?
Official announcements appear on the institute website, and violations of the guidelines can be reported through the Dean of Student Affairs office.
Sources: The Indian Express, The Hindu, The Times of India