India, July 26 -- The Supreme Court on Friday issued sweeping national guidelines mandating psychological safeguards and regulatory oversight across all educational institutions. The move comes in response to a disturbing rise in student suicides, described by the Court as a "systemic failure that cannot be ignored."

The ruling, delivered by a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, applies to schools, colleges, universities, private coaching centres, training academies, and hostels. Drawing powers from Articles 32 and 141 of the Constitution, the Court's guidelines are to be treated as the law of the land until formal legislation is enacted.

The judgment stems from the case of a 17-year-old NEET aspirant, referred to as Ms X, ...