UGC Cracks the Whip: 89 Top Institutions, Including IITs and IIMs, Face Action Over Anti-Ragging Lapses

Image Source: The Economic Times

In a sweeping compliance crackdown, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued show-cause notices to 89 higher education institutions across India—including premier names like IIT Bombay, IIM Rohtak, and Aligarh Muslim University—for failing to adhere to mandatory anti-ragging regulations. The move underscores growing concern over student safety and institutional accountability amid rising reports of campus hostility and ragging-related distress.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the violations, the institutions involved, and the consequences they now face.

Key Findings from the UGC Review

- The UGC flagged 89 institutions for not submitting mandatory anti-ragging undertakings from students and institutional compliance reports
- Among the defaulters are 17 Institutes of National Importance, including four IITs (Bombay, Kharagpur, Palakkad, Hyderabad) and three IIMs (Bombay, Rohtak, Tiruchirappalli)
- Other prominent names include AIIMS Raebareli, Aligarh Muslim University, Nalanda University, IGNOU, and the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata
- National Institutes of Design in Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, and Haryana also failed to comply

Regulatory Requirements and Violations

- Under the UGC’s Anti-Ragging Regulations, 2009, every student and their guardians must submit an anti-ragging undertaking at admission and at the start of each academic year
- Institutions are required to file compliance reports confirming adherence to these norms
- Despite multiple advisories, follow-up calls from the Anti-Ragging Helpline, and direct interventions by the Anti-Ragging Monitoring Agency, these institutions failed to comply

UGC’s Warning and Potential Penalties

- The UGC has given the defaulters 30 days to rectify the violations or face serious consequences
- Penalties may include withdrawal of UGC grants and funding, cancellation of research projects, and even de-recognition or loss of affiliation
- The Commission emphasized that non-compliance not only breaches regulatory norms but also endangers student welfare

Why This Matters

- The crackdown comes amid heightened scrutiny of campus safety following several high-profile ragging incidents in recent years
- The UGC’s action signals a zero-tolerance approach and a push for greater institutional responsibility
- It also serves as a wake-up call for other institutions to proactively enforce anti-ragging protocols

As India’s higher education ecosystem expands, the UGC’s latest move reinforces that academic excellence must go hand-in-hand with student safety and ethical governance.

Sources: Economic Times, Hindustan Times, Free Press Journal, Deccan Chronicle, MSN India, UGC Notices June 2025