Centre Launches Nationwide Drive to Make Educational Institutions Tobacco-Free:
The Ministry of Education has launched a nationwide enforcement drive aimed at making educational institutions tobacco and substance-free zones. This move comes as part of efforts to protect the country’s youth from the harmful effects of tobacco, alcohol, and drug abuse, with active participation expected from both educational and law enforcement authorities. The Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL) has issued a strong directive to States and Union Territories (UTs) to strictly enforce tobacco-free guidelines around educational institutions. This follows the 8th Apex Committee meeting of the Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) held on May 15, 2025, which emphasized the urgent need to shield young students from substance abuse.
