QS I-GAUGE’s Institution of Happiness (IOH) survey reports improvements in campus facilities, academic freedom and emotional support across India’s higher education and school sectors, while highlighting continued concerns around academic stress and the need for greater flexibility.

The survey, conducted as part of the IOH project, gathered feedback from nearly 5.5 lakh stakeholders across 28 states and eight Union Territories, including students, faculty, parents and alumni. It assessed satisfaction levels and practices linked to emotional resilience, happiness and well-being.

In higher education, 67 per cent of students rated emotional and mental support on campus as excellent, citing counselling services and staff accessibility. However, some called for well-being practices to be integrated into daily campus life. Academic stress remained a concern, driven by workload, personal challenges and relationship pressures, though 43 per cent of students reported no stress or anxiety.

Campus infrastructure received positive feedback, with 78 per cent of students rating facilities as good and 84 per cent reporting a sense of safety. Student participation was also noted, with 70 per cent saying their ideas were consistently heard and 80 per cent finding it easy to approach faculty or staff.

Among faculty, 72 per cent said they were comfortable discussing stress with management, while 84 per cent reported that their academic freedom was respected. Alumni feedback showed that 83 per cent had access to internship opportunities, though some cited uneven implementation.

In school education, 96 per cent of teachers and staff reported feeling safe on campus during late hours. While 61 per cent said they consistently had sufficient time and resources, 55 per cent reported occasional stress or burnout. Accessibility of school management was rated high by 86 per cent of faculty, and 77 per cent felt institutional decisions were fair.

School students highlighted academic pressure as a key source of stress, with 58 per cent identifying it as the primary cause. Around 56 per cent rated mental and emotional support as excellent, while 52 per cent felt well prepared for future education or careers, pointing to the need for stronger career guidance.

Parents reported high satisfaction with safety and communication. About 93 per cent were satisfied with school safety measures, 97 per cent felt their children were safe during travel, and 91 per cent were satisfied with school communication. Nearly 89 per cent said they felt supported when working with teachers on counselling and development issues.

Commenting on the findings, Ravin Nair, Managing Director of QS I-GAUGE, said the third edition of the survey aimed to strengthen stakeholder voices and embed well-being as a core aspect of institutional culture across Indian education.

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