Last Updated:January 16, 2026, 12:32 IST
A UGC panel has proposed counsellor–student ratios and dedicated mental health centres in colleges and universities.
UGC panel proposes counsellor norms and dedicated mental health centres for campuses.
A panel set up by the University Grants Commission (UGC) has proposed clear norms for student counselling and mental health support in colleges and universities, including specific counsellor-to-student ratios and the creation of dedicated mental health centres on campuses.
According to officials, the panel has recommended one counsellor for every 500 students in larger institutions and one counsellor for every 100 students in smaller institutions. It has also suggested that higher educational institutions (HEIs) hold regular awareness programmes on stress and anxiety to strengthen student-support systems.
Draft Guidelines For Uniform Mental Health Policy
The recommendations are part of the UGC panel’s draft guidelines titled UGC Guidelines on Uniform Policy on Mental Health & Well-Being for Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs). These guidelines are meant to be followed by colleges and universities across the country.
“The HEIs shall establish a dedicated Mental Health & Well-being Centre with all required physical infrastructure. The infrastructure will include dedicated rooms/spaces that will provide privacy while making or waiting for appointments,” the draft guidelines said. The panel has also stressed the need for periodic awareness programmes on stress and anxiety.
Record-Keeping And Data Protection
The guidelines also lay down norms for documentation and data handling at these centres. “The Centres will have facilities for documentation of sessions held, which will be coded or anonymised for storage. Clinical records may be destroyed as per the rules of the HEIs after a period of one year after the student graduates, as per norms,” the recommendations said.
“Data related to service utilisation may be stored. Contact details for the Centre need to be visibly displayed throughout the campus and the details available on the website as well,” it added.
Panel Formed After Supreme Court Directions
The UGC constituted the committee following the Supreme Court’s directions on July 25, 2025, to frame a uniform mental health policy for higher educational institutions in India. The panel is headed by Rajinder K Dhamija, Director of the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), Delhi.
Under the draft norms, the UGC has been given a central role in overseeing and supporting the implementation of the policy across all HEIs.
Monitoring Through ‘MANASSETU’ Portal
The commission will monitor progress through a dedicated portal called ‘MANASSETU’. This portal will be used to collect annual reports and feedback to assess whether key objectives, such as improving student well-being and reducing attrition or loss of life, are being achieved.
“The UGC will also support continuous capacity-building initiatives, recognise evidence-based interventions, and collaborate with the National Research Foundation (NRF), ICMR, ICSSR, and WHO, among others, to develop effective strategies and interventions,” the recommendations said.
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Focus On Crisis Management And Suicide Prevention
The draft guidelines also call for strong preparedness and crisis management systems on campuses. “By reviewing policies annually and identifying challenges in their adoption, the UGC will also ensure that mental health policies translate into tangible outcomes on the ground,” it said.
The panel has urged HEIs to strengthen suicide prevention measures as well. “Under suicide prevention infrastructure, peers, faculty, and staff should be trained to recognise signs of distress in behaviour and communication, such as abrupt changes in interaction, behaviour or class attendance,” the draft said.
First Published:
January 16, 2026, 12:32 IST
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