Last Updated:September 24, 2026, 13:02 IST

According to HC Verma, unethical exam practices can contribute to an environment where students begin to view academic rules as obstacles rather than as part of learning process.

HC Verma is a renowned physicist and a former professor at IIT Kanpur. (Image: hcverma.in)

Renowned physicist and former IIT Kanpur professor H C Verma has raised concerns over what he described as an unethical examination culture among students following the death of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode.

Verma said the incident was painful but also highlighted wider concerns about academic practices among students. He pointed to issues such as examination malpractice, dummy or non-attending schools and students receiving high practical marks despite limited participation in laboratory work.

According to Verma, such practices can contribute to an environment where students begin to view academic rules as obstacles rather than as part of the learning process. He stressed the importance of maintaining academic integrity and highlighted how dummy schools and coaching culture have been normalised in India.

The comments come amid the controversy surrounding the death of Sahil Wakode, a second-year BTech student at IIT Bombay, who died on September 18, 2026.

IIT Bombay had earlier said that Wakode was found using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination and that the question paper had been uploaded to ChatGPT. The institute later clarified aspects of its initial communication and said that no disciplinary action had been initiated against the student before his death.

The incident led to protests by students on the IIT Bombay campus, with questions being raised over examination rules, disciplinary procedures and student grievances. Wakode’s family has also raised allegations concerning his treatment at the institute, while the matter remains under investigation.

IIT Bombay subsequently constituted a committee to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident. The Mumbai Police are also investigating the case.

The debate has highlighted the need for institutions to balance academic integrity and enforcement of examination rules with appropriate student support and grievance mechanisms.

While one X user stated, “Indeed, the issue isn’t the institution, but the students. IIT Delhi students during my time were smart, but this made them view ethics as unimportant, lacking integrity. Fake medicals, proxies, etc., were common, and people felt no shame.”

While another said, “Yes definitely , this tution culture needed a discouragement . Now approx 90% students of 10+2, going to tution classes after attending school . That means school education not equipping enough. So much precious time goes in to all this. No time for self or with parents. Sad.”

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What concerns did physicist H C Verma raise regarding student academic culture following the IIT Bombay incident?

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Renowned physicist H C Verma raised concerns over an unethical examination culture among students, highlighting issues like examination malpractice, dummy or non-attending schools, and inflated practical marks. He stated that such practices normalize treating academic rules as obstacles rather than learning tools, emphasizing that success should never compromise ethics or health.

What circumstances surrounded the death of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode during his examination?

Sahil Wakode, a second-year BTech student at IIT Bombay, died on September 18, 2026, after being caught using a mobile phone during a mid-semester exam to upload a question paper to ChatGPT. The institute clarified that no formal disciplinary action had been initiated against him prior to his death, though the event sparked widespread campus protests, a faculty forum response backing the invigilator, and ongoing investigations by Mumbai Police.

How did the IIT Bombay Faculty Forum respond to the controversy involving professor Suryanarayana Doolla?

The IIT Bombay Faculty Forum expressed strong solidarity with exam invigilator Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, stating that he was properly discharging his duties in line with senate-approved academic policies after discovering unauthorized smartphone usage. The forum expressed distress over the tarnishing of the professor’s reputation while he was following institutional procedures.

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