India, Aug. 20 -- Well-being among school students in India plummets sharply as they move into the senior classes, with the number of students reporting high overall well-being dropping from 62% in Grade 8 to 43% in Grade 12. These findings were delineated in the Student Well-Being Pulse Report 2026 of the IC3 (International Career and College Counselling) Movement, a platform that brings together educators, counsellors, universities and institutions to promote counselling and well-being in schools.

The report, based on responses from 8,515 students across India, found that happiness, confidence and motivation also declined steadily through the school years. Happiness fell from 65% in Grade 8 to 48% in Grade 12, while confidence dropped ...