IIT Bombay mid-semester exams postponed to October 10 and 11 amid student protests

The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) has postponed its mid-semester examinations, originally scheduled for September 26 and 27, 2026. The exams will now be held on October 10 and 11, 2026, with the examination timetable remaining unchanged.

This decision comes amid ongoing student protests on the IIT Bombay campus following the death of a second-year BTech student, Sahil Wakode, on September 18, 2026. Wakode, 22, from the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, was found in his hostel room.

Circumstances Surrounding Student’s Death and Protests

Sahil Wakode’s death on September 18, 2026, has led to significant unrest and protests on the IIT Bombay campus. He was allegedly caught using a mobile phone to access ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination. Following the incident, students initiated protests, and Wakode’s parents began a hunger strike at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan.

Sahil Wakode’s father, Ravindra, has stated that his son repeatedly faced caste discrimination at the institute. He was quoted saying, “Those who tortured my son should be put behind bars. He had told us that he repeatedly faced caste discrimination at the institute.” Wakode’s parents also met the National Commission for Scheduled Castes chairman in Mumbai regarding the matter.

Actions Taken by IIT Bombay and Authorities

In response to the incident and subsequent protests, the IIT Bombay Board of Governors has asked Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, who was the invigilator during the examination, to go on leave. Professor Doolla has also been named in a First Information Report (FIR) for alleged abetment to suicide on grounds of caste discrimination. An email purportedly sent in 2024 by Professor Doolla reportedly cautioned students against inquiring about admission categories, JEE (Advanced) ranks, or GATE scores.

A 10-member high-level committee has been constituted to examine the circumstances surrounding Sahil Wakode’s death. This committee has been tasked with submitting its report within 10 days. In addition, Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad, along with party workers and NSUI activists, were detained outside the institute while expressing solidarity with Sahil Wakode’s family.

Revised Examination Schedule

The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) has postponed its mid-semester examinations. Originally scheduled for September 26 and 27, the exams will now take place on October 10 and 11. The institute has confirmed that the examination timetable will remain unchanged, with only the dates being revised.

This decision follows the death of a second-year BTech student, Sahil Wakode, on September 18, and subsequent student protests on the IIT Bombay campus. The postponement allows for a two-week deferral of the mid-semester assessments.

Proposed Changes to Hostel Arrangements

IIT Bombay is considering significant changes to its hostel arrangements, with a likely introduction of a twin-sharing model for hostel rooms across all years. Currently, first-year students generally share rooms, while students in later years are typically allotted single rooms.

These proposed changes were discussed during an Open House meeting between IIT Bombay Director Professor Shireesh Kedare and students. The consideration of these changes comes amid ongoing discussions regarding student welfare and living conditions on campus, following the recent student death and protests.

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

View all posts →

Further reading

• MH SET 2026 Eligibility Test Postponed for Third Time; New Date October 25
• WBCHSE HS Semester 3 Exams 2026: Three Papers Postponed Due to By-Elections; Revised Schedule at wbchse.wb.gov.in