IIT Bombay restores 2026 exam cheating rules, proposes new procedures after student suicide

In short

IIT Bombay restored its 2015 rules for examination misconduct on October 8, 2026, putting stricter July 2026 penalties on hold.
The decision follows student protests after the September 18, 2026, death by suicide of Sahil Wakode, a second-year BTech student.
An eight-member committee proposed revised procedures, including allowing students to continue exams with a fresh booklet after suspected cheating.
The committee recommended banning mobile phones and other electronic devices from examination buildings, with CCTV monitoring.
These recommendations are interim, and final guidelines are expected after further suggestions are considered by the IIT Bombay Senate.

IIT Bombay has restored its 2015 rules governing examination misconduct and proposed a revised procedure for handling suspected cheating cases, effective October 8, 2026. This decision follows widespread student protests after the death by suicide of second-year BTech student Sahil Wakode on September 18, 2026, who was allegedly found using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination.

The institute’s Senate temporarily reverted to the older norms, putting on hold stricter penalties introduced in July 2026. An eight-member committee, comprising four faculty members and four students, was constituted after Wakode’s death and presented its interim report at a special Senate meeting on Wednesday.

Revised Procedures for Suspected Cheating

Under the proposed procedure, an invigilator who detects suspected cheating would seize the relevant material, record the incident, and allow the student to continue the examination using a fresh answer booklet. The invigilator’s role would be limited to documenting the incident, with further proceedings handled by the Disciplinary Action Committee. Students would be given an opportunity to record their version of events after the examination, using a prescribed form in the presence of additional staff.

The Quick Response Team (QRT) helpline is proposed to be alerted when the student leaves the examination hall, providing the student’s name, roll number, course, and venue. This new approach aims to make easier the process, as previously, the institute followed 2015 procedures with a single paragraph on invigilator actions, leading to varied handling of cases by different departments. Routine physical frisking is proposed to be discontinued.

Changes in Examination Rules and Penalties

The IIT Bombay Senate has decided to temporarily revert to the institute’s 2015 rules governing examination misconduct. This decision puts on hold the stricter penalties introduced in July 2026, which had caused widespread student discontent. Under the July 2026 rules, carrying a mobile phone into an examination could result in an FR (fail and repeat) grade and a semester’s suspension. In contrast, the 2015 rules attracted a one-grade penalty for carrying a phone, while using one could result in an FR grade.

The committee has also proposed a ban on mobile phones, smartwatches, earphones, and other electronic devices, as well as bags, books, and notes inside examination buildings. Examination halls are proposed to be monitored through CCTV, and only one student would be permitted to leave the hall at a time for a bio-break. Entry to examination halls would close 30 minutes after an examination begins. These recommendations are interim, and a final set of guidelines is expected after suggestions are considered by the Senate.

Issue	New / updated rule
Cheating detected	Student can finish the exam with a fresh answer booklet.
Student’s version	Student gets a chance to explain the incident.
Disciplinary action	Decision to be taken by the disciplinary committee, not the invigilator.
Student support	QRT helpline to be alerted after the student leaves the hall.
Penalties	2015 rules restored temporarily; stricter July rules put on hold.
Electronic devices	Phones, smartwatches and earphones banned in exam halls.
Exam monitoring	CCTV monitoring proposed.
Bio-breaks	One student at a time allowed out.
Late entry	No entry after 30 minutes.
Frisking	Routine physical frisking discontinued.
Status	Recommendations are interim; final rules are yet to be issued.

Context of Academic Integrity and Past Incidents

The changes follow widespread student protests after Sahil Wakode, 22, was allegedly caught using a mobile phone and ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination on September 18, 2026. CCTV footage from the examination hall showed Wakode being pulled aside by the invigilator and handing over his mobile phone. The IIT Bombay Faculty Forum expressed solidarity with exam invigilator Suryanarayana Doolla.

Academic malpractice, including plagiarism in various projects and theses, has been a long-standing concern at IIT Bombay. A survey by the Ethics Committee within the Institute indicated that a bunch of students felt ethical standards were low or needed improvement, with peer and senior student influence being a major factor. Prof. M P Gururajan of Metallurgical and Material Sciences suspected that nearly 70-80% of B. Tech students, 30-40% of M. Tech students, and 15-20% of PhD students have plagiarised sections of their projects. Prof. Alok Shukla from the Department of Physics noted that IIT Bombay does not put up PhD research work online due to authenticity concerns. Previously, around 60 fourth-year UG students in the Chemical Department were given direct FRs for copying on a lab report last semester, which was later reduced to 15 FRs and around 30 two-grade penalties.

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.

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