The Odisha Government has stepped up its efforts to prevent ragging in higher educational institutions, directing institutions across the state to constitute anti-ragging committees before the beginning of the 2026–27 academic year.
The directive has been issued by the Higher Education Department to Registrars and Principals of higher educational institutions. The move places emphasis on ensuring that institutions have the required anti-ragging mechanisms in place before the new academic session begins.
Odisha anti-ragging committees to be formed before new session
According to the directive, all higher educational institutions have been asked to constitute anti-ragging committees ahead of the 2026–27 academic year.
The decision is aimed at strengthening institutional measures against ragging and ensuring that colleges and other higher educational institutions are prepared to address such incidents.
The Higher Education Department’s Joint Secretary has communicated the instruction to the Registrars and Principals of higher educational institutions in Odisha.
The directive comes as institutions prepare for the upcoming academic session, when new students will join campuses across the state.
Focus on safer higher education campuses
Ragging has remained a concern in educational institutions, particularly when new students enter campuses and interact with senior students. The constitution of dedicated anti-ragging committees is intended to provide institutions with an established mechanism to deal with complaints and concerns related to ragging.
By asking institutions to constitute the committees before the academic year begins, the Odisha Government is seeking to ensure that preventive arrangements are in place from the start of the session rather than being created only after an incident is reported.
The instruction applies to higher educational institutions covered by the Higher Education Department’s communication.
Directive sent to Registrars and Principals
The Joint Secretary of the Higher Education Department has written to the Registrars and Principals of higher educational institutions regarding the requirement.
The communication puts the responsibility on individual institutions to complete the process before the 2026–27 academic year gets underway.
For students and parents, the presence of an anti-ragging committee can provide an institutional channel for raising concerns related to ragging on campus. It also reinforces the responsibility of educational institutions to maintain a safe and supportive academic environment.
The directive highlights the Odisha Government’s strict approach towards ragging in higher education and its focus on preventive measures.
As colleges and other higher educational institutions prepare for the 2026–27 academic session, the formation of Odisha anti-ragging committees will be an important administrative step in strengthening campus-level measures against ragging.
