Centre Launches Month-Long Crackdown on Tobacco Near Campuses

The Ministry of Education has directed all States and Union Territories to enforce strict anti-tobacco regulations around schools and colleges as part of a national enforcement drive from May 31 to June 26, 2025. The directive follows the 8th Apex Committee meeting of the Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) and aims to curb tobacco and substance abuse among students.

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The initiative, led by Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), calls for rigorous implementation of the Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) Guidelines, including a 100-yard tobacco-free zone around all educational campuses, clearly marked by yellow lines, and ensuring no vendors operate within this radius.

States have been instructed to act on two urgent actions:

• Mark 100-yard tobacco-free zones around institutions.
• Ensure no shops sell tobacco products within these zones.

According to DoSEL Secretary Sanjay Kumar, the drive will also enforce provisions under Section 6(b) of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, banning the sale of tobacco products to or by minors and within 100 yards of educational institutions.

India’s youth are at high risk. The Global Youth Tobacco Survey 2019 found that 8.5% of students aged 13–15 used tobacco, with more than 5,500 children initiating use daily. Most adult users begin in adolescence, often accessing tobacco from nearby shops despite legal bans.

The ToFEI guidelines mandate nine steps for campuses, including signage, periodic awareness campaigns, and the appointment of tobacco monitors. Schools must conduct at least one tobacco control activity every six months and integrate anti-tobacco policy in their code of conduct.

Community involvement is key. The Ministry has called on School Management Committees, teachers, and parents to report violations and help build tobacco-free environments.

To spread awareness, the Ministry has also launched the World No Tobacco Day Awareness Quiz 2025 on the MyGov platform. The quiz, live from May 22 to July 21, aims to engage youth and educate them on the harms of tobacco in an interactive format.

States have been asked to ensure the full participation of education departments and law enforcement agencies during the enforcement period. The campaign aligns with India’s broader vision of a Viksit Bharat, ensuring safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments for the country’s youth.