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NEW DELHI: In a major move to protect students from tobacco and substance abuse, the Ministry of Education has launched a nationwide enforcement drive urging all states and Union Territories to strictly implement tobacco-free guidelines in and around educational institutions.
The initiative, led by Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL) Secretary Sanjay Kumar, follows the 8th Apex Committee meeting of the Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) held on May 15. The drive will run from May 31 (World No Tobacco Day) to June 26 (International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking), and is aimed at strengthening enforcement of Section 6(b) of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003.
Rising Youth Tobacco Use Triggers Concern
With India’s large youth population increasingly exposed to harmful substances, recent data shows troubling trends. The Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS-2), 2019 found that 8.5% of students aged 13–15 used tobacco in some form, and over 5,500 children start using tobacco each day. Tobacco use is widely seen as a gateway to more serious substance abuse.
Focus on the 100-Yard Rule
Two of the most urgent action points under the Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) guidelines are:
- Marking a 100-yard tobacco-free zone around all schools and colleges.
- Ensuring no shops or vendors sell tobacco within that radius.
The Ministry has called on local authorities and police to strictly enforce these rules and support educational institutions in monitoring and reporting violations. A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is also being developed to help staff report issues safely and effectively.Month-Long Enforcement Drive
The enforcement campaign will focus on:
- Banning tobacco sales within 100 yards of schools/colleges.
- Prohibiting sale of tobacco to or by minors.
- Promoting community involvement through School Management Committees (SMCs), teachers, and parents.
Authorities are encouraged to carry out at least one tobacco control activity every six months and actively raise awareness about the harms of tobacco.
Interactive Learning for Awareness
To engage the public and students, the Ministry has launched the ‘World No Tobacco Day Awareness Quiz 2025’ on the MyGov platform. The quiz, open from May 22 to July 21, aims to inform youth in an interactive and engaging way about the dangers of tobacco use.
Take the quiz: https://quiz.mygov.in/quiz/world-no-tobacco-day-awareness-quiz
A National Mission for Safe Campuses
The Ministry emphasized that creating safe, healthy, and substance-free campuses is essential to building a Viksit Bharat. With strong collaboration between education departments, enforcement agencies, and the public, the government hopes to build an environment where every student can thrive—free from the influence of harmful substances.
States and UTs have been urged to ensure active enforcement and full participation during the campaign period.
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