The Goa Directorate of Education has directed all schools across the state to ensure that a 500-metre radius around their premises is maintained as a drug-free zone, as part of a nationwide initiative to curb drug abuse among students.
The directive follows a recommendation from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, which has called for the implementation of a “500 Meter Drug-Free Zone” around educational institutions.
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In a circular dated August 24, 2026, the Directorate of Education directed the heads of all government, government-aided and unaided schools to take immediate and appropriate action to implement the recommendation.
The order covers secondary, higher secondary and special schools across Goa. School authorities have been specifically asked to ensure that the area within a radius of 500 metres from their premises is maintained as a drug-free zone.
The Directorate has also instructed heads of schools to take the necessary steps to ensure strict compliance with the directions with immediate effect.
The move is aimed at strengthening measures to prevent drug abuse among students by creating a wider protective zone around educational institutions. By extending the designated drug-free area beyond school campuses, the initiative seeks to ensure that the surroundings of schools are also kept free from activities or environments associated with drug abuse.
The circular was issued by Director of Education Shailesh R. Sinai Zingde and addressed to the heads of government, government-aided, unaided, secondary, higher secondary and special schools in the state.
The Directorate has also marked copies of the circular to officials including the Deputy Director of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Narcotics Control Bureau in New Delhi, the Under Secretary (Home-I), Department of Home (General), Secretariat, Porvorim, and the Deputy Directors of the North, Central and South Educational Zones.
Copies have also been sent to the Assistant Directors of Education at the taluka level and the nodal officer responsible for uploading the circular on the Directorate’s website.
The directive places responsibility on individual school authorities to act on the NCB recommendation and maintain the specified 500-metre area around their institutions as a drug-free zone.
The initiative forms part of the broader nationwide effort recommended by the Narcotics Control Bureau to curb drug abuse among students and strengthen preventive measures in and around educational institutions.
With the circular coming into effect immediately, schools across Goa have been asked to take the necessary action and ensure compliance with the directions.
