Ministry of Education calls for month-long drive to make educational institutions tobacco- and substance-free
The Department of School Education and Literacy asked all States and UTs on 23 May 2025 to run an enforcement drive from 31 May to 26 June 2025 against the sale of tobacco near educational institutions under Section 6(b) of COTPA, 2003.
Summary
The Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education, asked all States and UTs to strictly enforce rules keeping areas around educational institutions free of tobacco, alcohol and drugs, following the 8th Apex Committee meeting of the Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD). States and UTs are urged to run a month-long drive from 31 May 2025 (World No Tobacco Day) to 26 June 2025 (International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking) to enforce Section 6(b) of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, which bans the sale of tobacco within 100 yards of educational institutions and to or by minors. The Ministry is implementing the Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) Guidelines, including a yellow line marking a 100-yard tobacco-free zone. It cited the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS-2), 2019, which found 8.5% of students aged 13–15 using tobacco.
Key facts
- Issued by
- DoSEL, Ministry of Education, 23 May 2025
- Drive
- 31 May (World No Tobacco Day) to 26 June 2025 (International Day Against Drug Abuse)
- Law
- Section 6(b), COTPA 2003 — no sale within 100 yards of educational institutions or to/by minors
- Guidelines
- Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI); yellow line marking 100-yard zone
- Data cited
- GYTS-2 (2019): 8.5% of students aged 13–15 use tobacco
- Quiz
- World No Tobacco Day Awareness Quiz-2025 on MyGov, 22 May–21 July 2025
Practice MCQs 3 questions
The Ministry of Education's 2025 enforcement drive to make areas around educational institutions tobacco-free was to run during which period?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 31 May to 26 June 2025
The drive runs from 31 May (World No Tobacco Day) to 26 June 2025 (International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking). 22 May–21 July is the period of the MyGov quiz.
Which provision of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003 bans the sale of tobacco products within 100 yards of educational institutions, as cited by the Ministry of Education in May 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Section 6(b)
The Ministry asked States to enforce Section 6(b) of COTPA, 2003.
According to the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS-2), 2019, cited by the Ministry of Education, what share of Indian students aged 13–15 were using tobacco in some form?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 8.5%
GYTS-2 (2019) found 8.5% of Indian students aged 13–15 using tobacco in some form.