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IIT Bombay Recruitment 2026: The Student Wellness Centre (SWC) at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has invited applications for 30 ad hoc counsellor positions. These include 26 posts for student counsellors and four for senior counsellors. Selected candidates can begin work from October 15.
This recruitment drive comes as the institute seeks to strengthen its mental health support system following the death of Sahil Wakode, a second-year B.Tech student.
Death That Triggered Protests
Sahil allegedly died by suicide on September 18, hours after he was found using his phone during a mid-semester examination. His death triggered large-scale student protests on the IIT-B campus.
During the protests, students raised concerns over the adequacy of the institute’s mental health support system and pointed to a series of student deaths over the past year. They submitted a list of demands to Director Professor Shireesh Kedare, including an expansion of mental health support on campus.
Students said the SWC, with its limited number of counsellors, was inadequately equipped to cater to nearly 14,000 students across the institute’s various courses and departments.
Administration’s Reforms
Since the protests, the administration has announced several reforms focused on student welfare. Last week, the institute announced the appointment of an additional associate dean under the Dean of Student Affairs, who will primarily oversee student welfare.
Students were also informed of plans to appoint ‘student wellness secretaries’ in hostels as part of a broader overhaul of the institute’s student wellness support system.
The SWC is one of IIT-Bombay’s mental health support systems. It provides counselling and focuses on the emotional, psychological and mental well-being of undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD students.
Eligibility and Qualifications
According to the latest recruitment advertisement, applicants for the four senior counsellor positions must have at least 10 years of relevant experience after obtaining their qualifying degree. Applicants for student counsellor positions must have at least two years of relevant experience.
Candidates must hold an MA or MSc in Psychology, specialising in clinical, counselling or social psychology, with at least 55 per cent marks or an equivalent grade.
Key Dates and Selection Priorities
The last date to apply is October 17, while interviews are scheduled to be held between October 12 and 18. The institute has said it will consider linguistic and gender diversity while selecting the 30 counsellors to ensure that students from different social and linguistic backgrounds can access support.
Experience working with adolescents and young adults, residential academic institutions and crisis cases is desirable. Proficiency in Indian languages in addition to English and Hindi is also preferred.