On this page
If a senior's "introduction" turns into orders, insults or threats, the rules are clearly on your side.
What counts as ragging under UGC rules?
UGC's 2009 anti-ragging regulations apply to every higher education institution, including hostels, canteens, playgrounds and student transport, on campus or off it. Under clause 3, ragging includes any of these acts, whatever the senior's intent:
teasing or treating a fresher rudely, in words spoken or written, or by an act
making you do something you would not normally do that causes shame or embarrassment
disturbing your regular studies, or making you do academic tasks set for others
forcing you to pay for things or hand over money
physical or sexual abuse, stripping, or obscene acts
abuse by email, posts or public insults
any act that affects your mental health and self-confidence
A 2016 amendment published by UGC added that physical or mental abuse, "including bullying and exclusion", aimed at a student because of caste, religion, gender (including transgender), sexual orientation, appearance, region, language or economic background is also ragging.
What is the anti-ragging undertaking, and do you have to sign it?
Yes. Every student and a parent or guardian must give an undertaking at admission and again each academic year (clauses 6.1 and 6.2 of the UGC regulations). In it, you confirm that you know what counts as ragging, that you will not rag anyone, and that you have never been expelled or debarred for ragging. The 2013 UGC amendment prints both forms.
Today it is done online. A UGC circular dated 27 July 2026 asks colleges to collect undertakings through antiragging.in. After you fill in the online undertaking, you get a registration number by email and forward that email to your college's nodal officer. Nothing needs printing or signing.
For parents: under the same regulations, a fresher's parents are responsible for promptly bringing any ragging to the notice of the head of the institution.
How do you report ragging safely?
The National Anti-Ragging Helpline is 1800-180-5522, toll-free and open 24x7; the email address is helpline@antiragging.in (antiragging.in). A 2018 government release said the helpline was operational in 12 languages.
A plan for the first 24 hours:
Get to a safe place, such as a friend's room or the warden's office.
Call 1800-180-5522. If you cannot talk, use the online complaint form, which asks for your name, phone number, email, college and what happened.
Write down the date, time, place, what happened, names and witnesses. Screenshot messages and email evidence to helpline@antiragging.in from the address you used on the form.
Tell your warden or a member of the Anti-Ragging Squad. Colleges must print their phone numbers in the prospectus (UGC regulations, clause 6.1).
Tell a parent or someone you trust at home today, not after the semester.
If you are hurt or in immediate danger, call the police first.
If you are not sure what to say on the call, you can use this:
"I am a first-year student at (college, city). On (date) around (time), in (place), seniors (what they did). I am (safe now / scared to go back). Please register a complaint. I am worried about being identified, so please tell me how my details will be shared."
Note down your complaint number.
What happens after you complain?
Under clause 8.1 of the UGC regulations, a helpline complaint is relayed at once to your head of institution, hostel warden, the affiliating university's nodal officer and district authorities. Under clause 7, the head must immediately decide whether a criminal case is made out and, if so, file a police FIR within 24 hours. The college must run its own enquiry without waiting for the police and complete its action within seven days.
Punishments under clause 9.1 range from suspension from classes or the hostel to withheld results, cancelled admission, rustication and expulsion. Staff who ignore complaints can face disciplinary action themselves.
What if you are scared of being identified?
The UGC regulations already say that victims and witnesses who report ragging should be encouraged to do so, that their identity "shall be protected", and that they should face no adverse consequence for reporting (clause 6.2). UGC's July 2026 circular also tells colleges to ensure "protection of complainants". The online complaint form does ask for your name and contact details, so it is not anonymous.
At a National Human Rights Commission discussion in August 2025, NHRC Chairperson Justice V. Ramasubramanian called for strict anonymity for complainants, and participants suggested encouraging anonymous complaints; these are proposals, not rules yet.
The government's free mental health helpline, Tele MANAS, is on 14416, 24x7.
Getting back on track
If stress has put you behind, Fermi's AI tutor can work out what you already know and build a plan for the session, so you start from a clear next step.
Save 1800-180-5522 in your phone today, before you need it.
