In this article, we have discussed how Mandatory Counselling Hours Introduced in High-Stress Courses, will be helpful for the students.

Mandatory Counselling Hours Introduced in High-Stress Courses

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has introduced a progressive policy reform that requires all higher education institutions to implement mandatory counseling hours in high-stress academic programs, starting from the 2025–26 academic session, to support students’ emotional well-being.

This initiative comes amid rising concerns about academic burnout, anxiety, and mental health issues among students, particularly those enrolled in engineering, medicine, law, and management courses.

What the New Policy Requires

Under the revised UGC guidelines, all colleges and universities offering intensive or competitive academic courses must:

• Allocate a minimum of 2 counselling hours per week for each department
• Appoint or affiliate with certified mental health professionals
• Maintain confidential records of counselling sessions
• Organize monthly workshops on stress management and emotional resilience
• Establish a dedicated counselling cell with at least one full-time counselor for every 500 students

The policy is part of a broader mission to embed mental health support as a core component of student services, rather than an optional or reactive measure.

Targeted Programs and Institutions

While all higher education institutions are encouraged to adopt the guidelines, special focus will be on:

We also expect private institutions offering similar rigorous programs to comply, as non-compliance will affect their accreditation scores.

Implementation and Funding Support

To ensure successful execution, the Ministry of Education has announced special grants of ₹2 lakh per department per year to recruit trained psychologists, conduct mental health programs, and improve campus well-being infrastructure.

Institutions may utilize the funds for

• Hiring qualified mental health professionals (clinical or counselling psychologists)
• Setting up online mental health portals
• Organizing group therapy and peer mentoring sessions
• Printing mental wellness guides and distributing resource kits

The UGC has also partnered with NIMHANS (National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences) to conduct training for in-house academic staff on mental health first aid.

Key Benefits for Students

Introducing mandatory counseling hours is expected to offer several benefits to students, including

• Early detection of depression, anxiety, or exam-related stress
• Safe spaces to discuss personal, academic, or interpersonal issues
• Improved classroom performance and focus
• Better time and emotion management in high-pressure situations
• Greater openness around mental health conversations on campus

Students will also be allowed to book sessions confidentially online, with the assurance that counseling records will remain private and not affect academic evaluations.

Shaping Healthier Academic Environments

The rise in academic stress has been a growing concern in India’s higher education landscape. Multiple reports and student surveys have made it clear that there are urgent systemic solutions—especially in institutes where performance pressure is intense and failure often carries significant emotional costs.

The mandatory counselling policy signals a cultural shift in how Indian academia perceives student mental health—not as a weakness, but as a legitimate aspect of education requiring structured care.

As universities implement this reform, they are not just reducing the risk of burnout or dropout—they’re actively nurturing balanced, mentally strong professionals.

Moving forward, the UGC is also considering integrating mental health awareness into orientation programs and offering academic leave provisions for students under psychological care.

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