Indian educational institutions saw 51 ragging-related deaths between 2022 and 2024, suggests a new report published by SAVE (Society Against Violence in Education) – a non-profit working to eradicate ragging in educational institutions.
Medical colleges reported an alarming concentration. Medical students make up just 1.1 percent of those enrolled in higher studies in India, but medical students’ deaths accounted for 45.1 percent of ragging-related deaths in the three-year period, according to the report, called The State of Ragging.
Medical colleges also led in complaints, making up 38.6 percent of the total complaints, with 35.4 percent classified as serious cases.
Gaurav Singhal, vice president of SAVE, attributes the high incidence of ragging in medical colleges to a deeply ingrained culture of hierarchy and abuse.
“First-year students are dehumanised through ragging and, in turn, do the same when they become seniors – it’s a cycle. They instill fear and terror in juniors to ensure they take over their shifts. In this way, first years have to work some 36 hours.” Currently, the NEET PG counselling process has been delayed which is also adding to doctors’ workload.
Singhal added that administrators at these medical institutions downplayed the issue by dismissing it as “tradition”, and saying, “we’ve all been through it.”
The report analyses cases registered at the National Anti-Ragging Helpline via phone calls and emails during this period. A total of 3,156 complaints were filed from 1,946 colleges. However, this doesn’t mean ragging was limited to just these cases – these are only the ones officially reported, the study says, adding, the actual number of ragging incidents is likely much higher as most victims stay silent out of fear for their safety.
From 2022 to 2024, India’s top five medical colleges received the most complaints. MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Odisha topped the list with 25 complaints, followed by Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru Memorial Medical College in Chhattisgarh (15) and Vardhman Institute of Medical Sciences in Bihar (14). State Takmeel-Ut-Tib College and Hospital in Lucknow logged 12 complaints, while Delhi’s Maulana Azad Medical College reported 11 in the three-year period.
In terms of top medical universities, Madhya Pradesh Medical Science University in Jabalpur led with 75 complaints, followed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical University in Lucknow (68) and Maharashtra University of Health Sciences in Nashik (61). Rajasthan University of Health Sciences in Jaipur recorded 52 complaints, while West Bengal University of Health Sciences in Kolkata logged 39.
In 2024, among the colleges, the University of Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest complaints with 15. Among universities, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical University in Uttar Pradesh topped the list with 34 complaints.
With 30 complaints in the three-year period, the Banaras Hindu University Campus was the college that received the most complaints. Among universities, the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology in West Bengal recorded the highest with 75 complaints.
One of the key reasons for publishing this report, Singhal says, is to “name and shame the colleges that are responsible for ragging.” Another was to raise the issue that it’s happening more so in medical colleges.
The report suggests several measures to curb ragging. These include allowing anonymous complaints at the anti-ragging helpline to address victims’ fear of retaliation; installing CCTV cameras in hostel common areas; and the need to enforce UGC and NMC regulations mandating separate hostels for freshers, as poor compliance remains a major concern.
The report also highlights the need to strengthen anti-ragging enforcement. It stresses that institutions must file a police complaint within 24 hours for serious cases, as mandated by UGC and NMC regulations, to prevent cover-ups. It calls for the health ministry to host an annual Anti-Ragging Convention for medical colleges to train committee heads.
On January 25, 2025, the UGC issued showcause notices to 18 medical colleges across the country for non-compliance with anti-ragging regulations.
Among the defaulters, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Assam, and Puducherry each have two colleges that got UGC’s showcause notices. Andhra Pradesh and Bihar have three each. Additionally, one medical college each from Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh was served notices.
Small teams can do great things. All it takes is a subscription. Subscribe now and power Newslaundry’s work.
Newslaundry is a reader-supported, ad-free, independent news outlet based out of New Delhi. Support their journalism, here.
