IIT Bombay had temporarily suspended mid-term exams after the death of BTech student Sahil Wakode IIT Bombay was conducting mid-term examinations but the exams were suspended mid-way after second-year BTech student Sahil Wakode allegedly died by suicide on September 18, hours after he was allegedly found using a mobile phone during a mid-semester exam. These instructions were, as per an The Indian Express report, communicated to the office of the Dean (Academics) on Friday. However, the email did not reportedly explicitly mention the institute’s decision to revert to its 2015 punishment rules for academic malpractice. However, the ‘Academic Malpractice’ page linked in the email no longer features the July 2026 document titled ‘Disciplinary Actions for Acts of Academic Malpractices’, which prescribed stricter penalties. Instead, it now lists the rules finalised in April 2015, which stipulate comparatively lenient punishments. It has been stated that under the new instructions, students must be in their seats at least 10 minutes before the paper starts. It has also been reportedly told students that entry will close half an hour after it begins. Students not taking an exam will not be permitted to enter the examination building during exam hours. Also, only an original identity (ID) card and essential stationery will be allowed. Bags, notes, books and papers are barred from the building, except authorised material for open-book exams. Mobile phones, smartwatches, laptops, earphones, headphones and other electronic gadgets are also banned. “Students may be checked for possession of unauthorised materials,” the instructions state. The invigilating Teaching Assistants (TAs) have also been instructed to report 30 minutes early with original identity cards. Even the TAs are not allowed to bring bags, mobiles, headphones, earphones, papers, manuscripts, reading material or laptops into the hall. TAs have also been instructed to reportedly allow only one student at a time to step out for a bio-break. TAs, who are generally senior students pursuing master’s or PhD courses at the institute, have been told to “take the invigilation seriously. And report the cases of suspected unauthorised acts promptly to the faculty invigilator.” Deeksha Teri is currently working as an Assistant Editor at Times Now (Digital), and is primarily covering education and policy from New Delhi, which ... View More