Quick Facts
- UGC Anti-Ragging Helpline 1800-180-5522 is free, 24×7, and available in 12 languages.
- All students and parents must submit an anti-ragging undertaking online every year.
- UGC served show-cause notices to 89 institutions in June 2025 for non-compliance.
- Guilty students can face expulsion, exam ban, and fines up to Rs 2.5 Lakh.
The UGC Anti-Ragging Helpline, reachable at 1800-180-5522, is a free 24×7 national service that helps students report ragging and get support in 12 Indian languages.
As the 2026-27 academic session begins, the UGC Anti-Ragging Helpline sits at the centre of India’s campus safety system. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has made it clear that every higher education institution (HEI) in India must enforce anti-ragging rules. Non-compliant colleges risk losing grants and accreditation.
Key Takeaways
- Every student entering college in 2026-27 must file an online anti-ragging affidavit at antiragging.in before the session begins.
- Institutions that skip compliance checks now face public naming, funding cuts, and possible derecognition by the UGC.
- Ragging covers not just physical acts but also spoken, written, and digital harassment of any student.
- The UGC monitoring agency, Centre for Youth (C4Y), actively tracks every complaint until the victim confirms resolution.
What Is Anti-Ragging Law in India?
Ragging is any act that teases, humiliates, intimidates, or harms a fresher or junior student. This includes words spoken or written, physical acts, and digital messages. The UGC Regulations on Curbing the Menace of Ragging in Higher Educational Institutions, 2009 form the legal backbone of India’s anti-ragging system.
The Supreme Court of India directed the UGC to create these rules in its judgment dated May 8, 2009, in Civil Appeal No. 887 of 2009. The regulations apply to every university, college, and HEI recognised by the UGC. This includes central universities, state universities, deemed universities, and private colleges.
The law treats ragging as a criminal offence. Students guilty of ragging can be expelled. They may also be barred from admission to any other institution for a set period.
How Does the UGC Anti-Ragging Helpline Work?
Any student who faces or witnesses ragging can call the UGC Anti-Ragging Helpline at 1800-180-5522. The line is toll-free, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Support is available in 12 languages, making it accessible to students across India.
Students can also email their complaint to helpline@antiragging.in or visit antiragging.in. The UGC’s monitoring agency, Centre for Youth (C4Y), manages the helpline. C4Y follows up with the college’s Anti-Ragging Committee until the victim confirms the issue is resolved. No complaint is closed without the victim’s written consent.
If a college does not cooperate, C4Y escalates the case directly to the UGC. The UGC can then order punitive action against the institution.
What Are the Penalties for Ragging?
The UGC regulations list a range of punishments based on how serious the act is. A student found guilty may face one or more of the following.
| Penalty Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Suspension from classes | Student is removed from academic privileges for a set period. |
| Scholarship cancellation | Any fellowship or scholarship is withdrawn immediately. |
| Exam ban | Student is barred from appearing in exams or evaluations. |
| Rustication | Removal from institution for 1 to 4 semesters. |
| Expulsion | Permanent expulsion and ban from admission to any other institution. |
| Fine | Monetary penalty of up to Rs 2.5 Lakh. |
| Imprisonment | Jail term of up to 2 years under applicable law. |
The most serious penalty, permanent expulsion with a cross-institution ban, applies in cases of physical violence or acts causing severe harm.
What Must Colleges Do Every Year?
Every HEI must take specific steps before and during each academic session. These are not optional. They are mandatory under UGC rules.
Institutions must form an Anti-Ragging Committee, an Anti-Ragging Squad, and an Anti-Ragging Cell. They must install CCTV cameras at hostels, canteens, bus stops, and common areas. They must display the UGC Anti-Ragging Helpline number prominently across campus.
Each college must also conduct surprise inspections of hostels and public spaces at least once a fortnight during the first three months of the session. Orientation programmes must explain anti-ragging rules to all new students on day one.
What Is the Anti-Ragging Affidavit and Who Must Sign It?
Every student and every parent must submit an online anti-ragging undertaking before the start of each academic year at antiragging.in. This is a non-negotiable condition for admission and for continuing studies. The undertaking states that the student has not engaged in or supported any act of ragging.
Colleges must ensure 100% submission from their student body. Institutions that fail to obtain these undertakings are in direct breach of UGC regulations and risk show-cause notices.
Which Institutions Were Penalised in 2025?
In June 2025, the UGC issued show-cause notices to 89 higher education institutions for failing to comply with anti-ragging rules ahead of the 2025-26 session. The notice, dated June 9, 2025, was signed by UGC Secretary Prof. Manish R. Joshi.
Notable names on the list included IIT Bombay, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Palakkad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Rohtak, IIM Tiruchirappalli, IGNOU, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), AIIMS Raebareli, and the National Institute of Design campuses. State universities across Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Kerala, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Rajasthan were also named.
These institutions were directed to ensure all students file their online anti-ragging undertakings within 30 days. They were also required to submit detailed compliance reports. Failure to comply could lead to withdrawal of UGC grants, public naming on the UGC website, and possible derecognition or loss of affiliation.
About UGC
The University Grants Commission (UGC) is a statutory body established under the UGC Act, 1956. It coordinates and maintains standards in university education across India. Its Anti-Ragging Cell, based at 6 Benito Juarez Marg, New Delhi, oversees the National Ragging Prevention Programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and its monitoring agency, Centre for Youth (C4Y).
What This Means For You
If you are a student
You have the right to study in a safe environment. If you face ragging, call 1800-180-5522 right now. It is free, confidential, and available in your language. File your online anti-ragging undertaking at antiragging.in before your session starts. If you witness ragging, report it. Staying silent can make you liable under UGC rules for abetment.
If you are a parent
You must also submit an anti-ragging undertaking online at antiragging.in when your child joins college. Check that your child’s college has an active Anti-Ragging Committee and that the helpline number is displayed on campus. If you suspect ragging, call 1800-180-5522 directly. You do not need to go through the college first.
If you are a school principal or teacher
Students in Class 12 will enter college campuses this year. Discuss anti-ragging rights with them before they leave. Tell them about the helpline. A short five-minute session during farewell week can make a real difference for vulnerable students.
If you run a college or university
The UGC has shown it will name institutions publicly and cut funding for non-compliance. Check whether your Anti-Ragging Committee is active, undertakings are filed, CCTV is operational, and compliance reports are uploaded to antiragging.in. The 2026-27 session is already underway. Do not wait for a show-cause notice.
CampusFeed Take
The June 2025 show-cause notices to 89 institutions, including IITs and IIMs, signal a shift in how seriously the UGC is now enforcing rules that existed on paper since 2009. The institutions that received notices were not obscure colleges; they were some of India’s best-funded and most-watched universities. This tells institution heads across India that reputation does not protect against regulatory action. Freshers entering in 2026-27 walk onto campuses where the compliance stakes are higher than ever. The one group that should pay closest attention now is the new batch of students who may not know that a free, multilingual helpline exists and that their silence after witnessing ragging carries legal consequences. By CampusFeed Desk.
What Is Next
The 2026-27 academic session opens across most Indian universities between June and August 2026. Anti-ragging compliance reports for the new session are expected to be filed by all institutions ahead of student intake. The UGC is expected to continue its structured compliance review, following the model used in 2025.
- June to August 2026: New student intake at most Indian HEIs.
- Before day one of session: Students and parents must file online undertakings at antiragging.in.
- First three months of session: Institutions must conduct fortnightly random surveys among freshers.
- Ongoing: UGC and C4Y monitor all open complaints until victims confirm resolution.
Is your college visibly displaying the anti-ragging helpline number? If not, that is the first thing to check before classes begin.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UGC Anti-Ragging Helpline number?
The UGC Anti-Ragging Helpline number is 1800-180-5522. It is toll-free, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and operates in 12 languages. Students can also email helpline@antiragging.in or file a complaint online at antiragging.in.
Is the anti-ragging affidavit mandatory for all students?
Yes. Every student and every parent must submit an online anti-ragging undertaking at the start of each academic year at antiragging.in. This applies to new students at the time of admission and to all continuing students at the start of each new year. Failure to submit is a breach of UGC regulations.
What happens to a college that does not comply with anti-ragging rules?
A non-compliant college can receive a show-cause notice from the UGC. If it does not respond, the UGC can withdraw grants and funding, name the institution publicly on its website, and initiate derecognition or withdrawal of affiliation. In June 2025, 89 institutions including IITs and IIMs received such notices.
What counts as ragging under UGC rules?
Ragging covers any act, whether spoken, written, physical, or digital, that teases, humiliates, intimidates, or causes mental or physical harm to a fresher or junior student. Asking a student to perform acts against their will that generate shame or embarrassment also counts as ragging under UGC Regulations, 2009.
Can a student be expelled for ragging?
Yes. Expulsion from the institution, with a consequent ban from admission to any other institution for a specified period, is the most severe punishment under UGC anti-ragging regulations. Financial fines of up to Rs 2.5 Lakh and imprisonment of up to 2 years are also possible under applicable law.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and is based on publicly available information at the time of publishing. Exam dates, cutoffs, fees, deadlines, eligibility criteria, and scholarship details can change without notice. Always verify the latest information from the official portal of UGC (ugc.gov.in) and the National Anti-Ragging Portal (antiragging.in) before taking any action. CampusFeed and its authors are not responsible for decisions made based on this article. This is not legal, financial, or career advice. Please consult a qualified professional for individual guidance.
Have a tip or correction? Write to us at editorial@campusfeed.in.
