NEW DELHI: In a major step towards protecting students from the harmful effects of tobacco and substance abuse, Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education has issued a strong call for action to all States and Union Territories (UTs) to strictly enforce rules and guidelines that keep areas around educational institutions free of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs.
Nationwide enforcement drive, issued by Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, DoSEL, comes after the 8th Apex Committee meeting of the Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) held on May 15.
This high-level meeting, chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, highlighted the urgent need to safeguard youth from harmful substances and called for coordinated efforts between education and law enforcement departments.
India has one of the youngest populations in the world, with a large number of its citizens below the age of 29.
Studies indicate that consumption of tobacco among the youth is rapidly increasing leading to experimenting with other forms of substance abuse within the school/college premises.
The Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS-2), 2019, revealed that 8.5% of Indian students aged 13 to 15 were using tobacco in some form or the other. Even more alarming is the fact that over 5,500 children in India start using tobacco every single day.
Government’s response
The Ministry of Education is implementing the Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) Guidelines to make schools and colleges free from tobacco use and sale.
DoSEL launched the implementation Manual of ToFEI on 31st May 2024. It aims to assist schools in adhering to the ToFEI guidelines, thereby creating a healthier, tobacco-free environment for students.
The ToFEI guidelines list following nine activities schools and colleges must carry out to keep campuses tobacco-free.
- Display of ‘Tobacco Free Area’ Signage Inside the Premises
- Display of ‘Tobacco Free Educational Institution’ Signage at the Entrance/Boundary
- No Evidence of Tobacco Use in the Premises
- Display of Awareness Materials on Harms of Tobacco
- At Least One Tobacco Control Activity Every Six Months
- Nomination of Tobacco Monitors
- Inclusion of Tobacco-Free Policy in School Code of Conduct
- Marking a yellow line 100 yards around educational institutions to designate a tobacco-free zone
- Ensuring no shops or vendors sell tobacco products within that 100-yard zone
- Of these, two key actions require immediate support from local authorities:
- Marking a yellow line 100 yards around educational institutions to designate a tobacco-free zone.
- Ensuring no shops or vendors sell tobacco products within that 100-yard zone.
To ensure these measures are enforced, the Ministry has called on education authorities and law enforcement agencies to step up. An advisory from the Ministry of Home Affairs, issued in November 2024, already requested strict implementation of these provisions.
Month-long drive
Starting May 31, 2025 — World No Tobacco Day — and continuing until June 26, 2025 — International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking — States and UTs are urged to launch a month-long enforcement drive to enforce Section 6(b) of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, which bans:
- The sale of tobacco products within 100 yards of educational institutions
- The sale of tobacco to or by minors
States are also encouraged to develop a clear Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that allows school and college staff to report violations directly and without fear to local police.
Community involvement and awareness
The Ministry has emphasised the role of School Management Committees (SMCs), teachers, and parents in supporting this mission. By spreading awareness and reporting violations, communities can help create safe spaces for students to learn and grow.
To educate students, teachers and the general public on the harmful effects of tobacco, the Ministry has launched the ‘World No Tobacco Day Awareness Quiz-2025’ on MyGov platform (https://quiz.mygov.in/).
The quiz is live from May 22 to July 21. It is a step towards shaping strong societal norms against tobacco use by empowering the youth with knowledge on the dangers of tobacco.
Link: https://quiz.mygov.in/quiz/world-no-tobacco-day-awareness-quiz/
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