IIT Kharagpur has released a new advisory aimed at strengthening student safety during late-night hours by introducing a formal system to track off-campus movement. Under the revised guidelines, students stepping out of the campus between 10 pm and 6 am must share details such as destination, purpose of visit and expected return time.

The advisory also mandates that parents or guardians be informed whenever a student exits the campus during late hours. Students will be required to record their return upon re-entering the campus, while the long-standing rule of carrying a valid institute identity card will now be strictly enforced.

Institute authorities said the decision was taken following a recent tragic incident involving a hostel resident who lost his life after being hit by a train while outside the campus at night. Officials noted that the absence of information about the student’s whereabouts exposed gaps in the existing safety monitoring system.

Clarifying the institute’s stand, IIT Kharagpur Director Suman Chakraborty said the advisory is not intended to restrict student movement but to ensure accountability and faster response during emergencies. While the move has triggered debate over privacy and autonomy, the institute maintains that the measures are preventive and focused solely on student welfare.