IIT Bombay hosted the 2nd National Well-being Conclave on November 22-23, 2025 . The event focused on improving student and faculty mental health within higher education institutions (HEIs) across India.
Organized with the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, the conclave aimed to embed counselling services, resilience initiatives, and digital well-being tools into academic systems.
Conclave Participation and Purpose
The conclave gathered participants from across India.
| Category | Number |
|---|---|
| Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) | 80 |
| Faculty Members | 115 |
| Students | 139 |
This event built upon the inaugural conclave held at IIT Hyderabad in 2024 . It focused on developing coordinated strategies for student mental health, resilience, and overall well-being.
Day One Highlights: Inter-Institutional Support
The two-day program began with an inaugural session at the convocation hall. The “Compendium of Emerging Best Practices of Well-being Across the Country 2.0” was released, documenting models for institutional replication.
Day one also featured a wellness exhibition, symposiums, and panel discussions. These covered counselling systems, peer mentorship networks, digital well-being tools, and the institutional role in student health promotion.
- Symposium: “The Future of Well-being in Indian Higher Education” discussed evolving institutional responsibilities.
- Panel: “Thriving Minds: From Academic Growth to Lifelong Well-being” explored integrating emotional resilience into academic and personal development.
- Sessions: Topics included “Policy Frameworks for Well-being,” “Early Identification and Intervention of Psychosocial Concerns,” and “Collaborative Mental Health Frameworks.”
Experts emphasized the need for proactive institutional mechanisms, early support systems, and inter-institutional partnerships. These actions aim to create sustainable impact and embed well-being into academic culture, according to a press release.
Day Two: Faculty and Student Workshops
Day two started with a campus walkathon. This was followed by workshops for faculty and students. Workshops covered life skills, peer support, counselling competencies, and digital well-being. Student groups presented their initiatives through presentations.
Vineet Joshi, Secretary, Department of Higher Education, delivered remarks. Shireesh Kedare, Director, IIT Bombay, and Manoj Singh Gaur, Director, IIT Jammu, spoke. They highlighted the importance of institutionalizing student well-being initiatives.
The conclave concluded with a valedictory ceremony. Rina Sonowal Kouli, Joint Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, chaired the session. Final recommendations and the Inter-University Action Plan for 2025–26 were announced. This plan aims to coordinate well-being initiatives across all HEIs.
National Commitment to Mental Health
The education ministry states that the conclave reaffirmed its commitment. It aims to establish an accountable academic ecosystem that integrates mental health into India’s higher education framework. The comprehensive action plan for 2025–26 outlines this commitment.
First Conclave Overview
The 1st National Well-being Conclave took place at IIT Hyderabad on November 9-10, 2024 . It involved 350 stakeholders from 100 institutions. The conclave highlighted student and faculty mental health as a collective responsibility.
Key recommendations from the first conclave included professional counselling systems, student representation, faculty and staff well-being initiatives, and collaboration with external experts. These measures align with the Supreme Court’s 15-point guidelines issued in July 2025 .