Bhubaneswar, May 26 -- Odisha Higher Education Department directed all higher educational institutions (HEIs) to strengthen anti-ragging mechanisms and enhance safeguards for students. This development comes amid following recommendations issued by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and recent observations of the Supreme Court.

The directive was issued after the Department received a communication from the NHRC regarding recommendations emerging from the Open House Discussion on "Re-examining Ragging in Higher Educational Institutions: Creating Safer Campuses through Awareness, Accountability, and Action", held on August 25, 2025.

The Commission highlighted the need for stronger institutional measures to prevent ragging and ens...