GS2The Hindu · Editorial

Mentoring should be more than a ritual

Mentoring in higher education should be a continuing faculty responsibility that supports student growth, wellbeing, and career guidance.

Samachar Pathshala Desk

Published 20 Jul 2026 · 1 min

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Mentoring should be more than a ritual — The Hindu column argues that mentoring in Indian higher education should be a meaningful faculty responsibility rather than a paperwork exer...

Key takeaways

Indian higher education institutions formally expect faculty members to counsel students, but mentoring often remains weak in practice.
Effective faculty mentoring requires empathy, understanding of student aptitude, time for engagement, and attention to both academic and non-academic concerns.

Mentoring in higher education is presented as a substantive part of student development, not as a paperwork-driven formality. The Hindu column argues that colleges and universities should treat faculty mentoring as a continuing institutional responsibility because mentors can shape academic choices, career direction, and student resilience.

The UPSC angle

GS2GS4Essay

Mentoring as a governance and institutional-quality issue in higher education

UPSC may frame mentoring as part of higher education reform, teacher capacity-building, and student wellbeing. The issue also fits ethics questions on empathy, duty of care, and maintaining professional boundaries in institutional relationships.

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