UGC Directive: IIT BHU to Require Drug Testing for New Students Before Admission

In compliance with directives from the Union Ministry of Education and the University Grants Commission (UGC), IIT BHU has decided to implement urine-based drug testing for all new students.

A new policy is being introduced for students enrolling at IIT BHU, Varanasi. Following instructions from the Union Ministry of Education and the University Grants Commission (UGC), the institute has decided to conduct urine-based drug tests for new students. To oversee and ensure the smooth execution of this process, the IIT BHU administration has, for the first time, established a nine-member committee. This initiative is aimed at curbing substance abuse within higher educational institutions—such as IITs and IIMs—and fostering a drug-free campus environment.

According to an official notification issued by the institute’s Deputy Registrar, this testing procedure applies to all newly admitted students. This includes those enrolled in B.Tech and integrated dual-degree programs, M.Tech and M.Pharma courses, as well as Ph.D. researchers. Based on current enrollment figures, IIT BHU admits approximately 1,500 students into B.Tech and dual-degree programs, 400 into M.Tech programs, and 300 into Ph.D. research programs annually; all these new students will fall under the scope of this initiative.

Who will oversee the testing process?

The nine-member panel formed to supervise the urine-based drug testing includes faculty members from IIT BHU, as well as senior doctors from the Institute of Medical Sciences at Banaras Hindu University (BHU). The committee will be chaired by Professor Rajesh Kumar, who serves as the Head of the Welfare Department. Other members of the committee include Professor Devendra Singh, Professor Medha Jha, Professor Abhishek Kumar Srivastava, Dr. Ajit Kumar Mishra, Professor Kiran Giri, Dr. Deepa Rani, Professor Kamlesh Palundarkar, and Tushar Kumar.

Will student consent be required?

According to the Ministry of Education's directives, obtaining the full, written consent of students will be a mandatory requirement for this testing process. It is compulsory to secure a student's consent before conducting any test. However, the information released so far does not include detailed guidelines regarding the procedure for obtaining consent, the testing schedule, or the actions to be taken should a student test positive. The test will screen for six types of drugs, including substances such as cannabis, cocaine, heroin, and opium.

Why is there a need for a dope test?

The Ministry of Education and the University Grants Commission (UGC) periodically amend regulations with the objective of ensuring a drug-free environment in major higher educational institutions across the country. The formation of a committee by IIT BHU is considered a significant, concrete step in this direction.