IIT Bombay Postpones Mid-Semester Exams to October 10-11 After Sahil Wakode Death

September 24, 2026

Mumbai: IIT Bombay has postponed its mid-semester examinations scheduled for September 26 and 27, days after the death of second-year BTech student Sahil Wakode.

The examinations will now be conducted on October 10 and 11, following the same timetable, the institute said in a communication to students on Thursday.

The decision comes as IIT Bombay reviews its examination procedures and works on revised guidelines for handling suspected academic misconduct.

IIT Bombay Postpones Exams to Prepare New Examination SOP

According to the institute, the postponement will give a newly constituted committee, which has equal student representation, time to prepare a clear and student-friendly Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for invigilators.

The committee is also working on revised rules concerning academic misconduct.

IIT Bombay said the objective is to ensure that examinations are conducted fairly and consistently while addressing concerns raised by students.

Faculty members have also stressed the need for clear, step-by-step instructions for conducting examinations and dealing with cases involving suspected academic misconduct.

The revised SOP and rules will be placed before the institute’s Senate for approval before they are implemented.

Sahil Wakode Death Case at IIT Bombay

Sahil Wakode, 22, was a second-year BTech student in IIT Bombay’s Department of Energy Science and Engineering. He was found dead in his hostel room on September 18.

According to reports, Wakode had allegedly been caught using a mobile phone to access ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination shortly before his death. His parents have also alleged that he had told them about caste-based slurs he faced. These allegations are part of the broader circumstances being examined and have not been established as facts.

IIT Bombay has constituted a 10-member high-level committee to examine the circumstances surrounding Wakode’s death. The committee includes a former vigilance officer and student representatives.

CCTV Footage Examined During Investigation

CCTV footage from the examination hall has also emerged as part of the discussion surrounding the case. According to reports, the footage shows Wakode’s movements between approximately 12:30 pm and 12:45 pm on September 19, with around 15 to 20 minutes remaining before the examination was scheduled to end at 1 pm.

The institute’s committee is examining the circumstances surrounding the incident, while the postponement of the mid-semester examinations will allow time for the revised examination procedures to be prepared and considered by the Senate.