Cyberbullying and Student Rights in India Impact, Legal Provisions, and Prevention Strategies

Cyberbullying has emerged as one of the most pressing challenges in India’s digitally connected educational environment. With over 85% of Indian children reportedly experiencing some form of online harassment — the highest rate globally according to a McAfee survey — the psychological, academic, and social consequences for student victims are profound and far-reaching. India reported over 50,035 cybercrime cases in 2020 alone (NCRB), with cyberstalking and cyber blackmailing among the fastest-growing categories. This paper synthesizes findings from 12 peer-reviewed studies retrieved from Google Scholar to examine the nature, prevalence, and multi-dimensional impacts of cyberbullying among Indian students. It critically evaluates constitutional safeguards under Articles 14, 19, and 21, relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act 2000, the Indian Penal Code, and the POCSO Act 2012. The paper also assesses the effectiveness of government initiatives including the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal and the I4C awareness campaigns. Employing a qualitative, descriptive methodology based entirely on secondary sources, this study identifies significant enforcement gaps and awareness deficits, concluding that dedicated cyberbullying legislation, mandatory digital literacy education, and robust institutional support mechanisms are essential to protect Indian students’ rights and well-being in digital spaces.