The 2nd The conclave marks a continued effort to unify national initiatives following the first National Well-Being Conclave held at IIT Hyderabad in 2024, held at IIT Bombay on 22–23 November, brought together higher education institutions from across India to advance mental health and well-being frameworks for students and faculty. Organised in collaboration with the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, the event saw participation from around 80 institutions, 115 faculty members, and 139 students.
The conclave builds on growing national recognition of student well-being as a core policy priority. The National Education Policy 2020, the National Suicide Prevention Strategy 2021, and recent UGC guidelines have all emphasised the need for structured counselling systems, inclusive campuses, and stronger accountability mechanisms. Economic Surveys of 2023–24 and 2024–25 have also underscored the economic importance of a mentally healthy student population.
At the inaugural session, senior officials from the Ministry of Education and directors of leading IITs highlighted the need to institutionalise mental health support within academic environments. A key release at the event was the “Compendium of Emerging Best Practices of Well-Being Across the Country 2.0,” documenting replicable models from campuses nationwide.
Across two days, the conclave featured symposiums, panel discussions, and thematic sessions on counselling frameworks, peer support networks, digital well-being, early intervention mechanisms, and institutional responsibility. Experts stressed the need for proactive systems, coordinated action across institutions, and integration of emotional resilience into academic growth.
Day 2 included a walkathon to emphasise the link between physical and mental health, along with workshops for faculty and students on life skills, peer support, counselling competencies, and digital well-being. Student groups also presented campus-led wellness initiatives.
The event concluded with the announcement of final recommendations and the Inter-University Action Plan for 2025–26, outlining coordinated steps that institutions will take to strengthen mental health support across campuses.
The conclave marks a continued effort to unify national initiatives following the first National Well-Being Conclave held at IIT Hyderabad in 2024, which established counselling systems, student participation, and faculty well-being as key priorities. Those recommendations have since informed institutional reforms and align with the Supreme Court’s 15-point guidelines issued in July 2025.
By outlining a clear roadmap for the coming year, the second conclave reinforces the commitment of India’s higher education system to building resilient, inclusive, and accountable campuses that place student and faculty well-being at the centre of academic reform.
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