NEW DELHI, Nov 1: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has urged universities and colleges across India to actively participate in the BRICS Sustainable Lifestyle Week 2026, beginning November 1, with a series of activities aimed at promoting environmentally responsible behaviour among students, teachers and institutional staff.
The week-long initiative, scheduled to continue until November 7, is being organised under the government’s Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) programme as part of India’s BRICS Chairship in 2026. The programme seeks to encourage individuals and communities to adopt sustainable practices and make environmental responsibility an integral part of everyday life.
In a communication issued on October 30, the UGC asked higher education institutions (HEIs) to organise awareness programmes, campus-based activities and community outreach initiatives throughout the week. Institutions have been encouraged to involve students, faculty members, administrative staff and different academic departments in implementing the programme.
The initiative will cover seven themes, with each day focusing on a particular aspect of sustainable living. These include adopting healthy lifestyles, conserving energy, saving water, promoting sustainable food systems, avoiding single-use plastics and reducing different forms of waste.
According to the programme schedule shared by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, November 1 will focus on adopting healthy lifestyles. Colleges and universities have been encouraged to organise yoga sessions, walkathons, tree plantation drives and activities through which participants can take the Mission LiFE pledge.
On November 2, institutions will focus on energy conservation. Suggested activities include switching off unnecessary electrical appliances for an hour, conducting awareness sessions and encouraging students to reduce electricity consumption in classrooms, laboratories, hostels and residential areas.
Water conservation will be the central theme on November 3. Educational institutions can organise campaigns highlighting the importance of rainwater harvesting, repairing leaking taps and adopting responsible water-use practices. Students may also be encouraged to identify areas where water consumption can be reduced on their campuses.
The fourth day, November 4, will focus on sustainable food systems. Institutions have been encouraged to promote traditional diets, millets and responsible food consumption while creating awareness about food wastage. Activities may include discussions on sustainable agriculture, nutrition and the environmental impact of food production and distribution.
The campaign against single-use plastics will take centre stage on November 5. Colleges can organise cleanliness and plogging drives while encouraging students to use reusable bottles, bags and other alternatives to disposable plastic products.
On November 6, the emphasis will be on reducing electronic waste. Educational institutions have been encouraged to organise e-waste collection activities and educate students about recycling, repairing and responsibly disposing of electronic equipment.
The final day, November 7, will focus on broader waste reduction measures, including community cleanliness campaigns, recycling initiatives and waste-to-art activities.
The UGC has encouraged universities and colleges to involve their constituent institutions, departments and field centres in the campaign rather than limiting participation to individual administrative units.
Student involvement is expected to be a major component of the programme. Institutions have been asked to utilise existing networks, including university green clubs, school eco-clubs, the National Service Scheme (NSS) and the National Cadet Corps (NCC), to increase participation.
The involvement of these groups is expected to help extend environmental awareness beyond classrooms and academic discussions. Through practical activities, students can understand how individual decisions relating to electricity, water, transportation, food and waste management affect the environment.
The programme also seeks to encourage educational institutions to become examples of sustainable practices. Campuses consume considerable quantities of electricity and water and generate different forms of waste through academic, administrative and residential activities. Introducing conservation measures at the institutional level can help demonstrate how environmental objectives can be translated into everyday practices.
The UGC has also asked participating institutions to display promotional material related to BRICS Sustainable Lifestyle Week and Mission LiFE across their campuses. Digital display boards, institutional websites and social media platforms can be used to communicate the objectives of the campaign and encourage wider participation.
Universities and colleges have been encouraged to share photographs, videos, infographics and accounts of successful activities through their official communication channels. They can use the hashtags #MissionLiFE, #Proplanetpeople and #BRICSforLiFE to increase the visibility of their initiatives.
To ensure coordination and proper documentation, every participating institution has been asked to nominate a nodal officer. The designated officer will be responsible for registering the institution and uploading information about the activities conducted on the Ministry of Environment’s Meri LiFE portal.
The portal will serve as a platform for recording participation and documenting initiatives undertaken by educational institutions during the campaign. Colleges and universities will also be able to share examples of activities that can be replicated by other institutions.
The ministry has scheduled daily online orientation sessions from October 27 to November 7 to assist participating institutions. These sessions are being conducted through Webex in two slots, from 11 am to 1 pm and 3 pm to 5 pm.
The orientation programme is intended to provide institutions with information and guidance on organising activities, coordinating participation and reporting their achievements.
After the conclusion of the week-long campaign, institutions will be required to submit a brief report covering their activities and best practices through the Meri LiFE portal. The deadline for submitting the reports has been fixed for November 12.
The initiative comes at a time when environmental sustainability is receiving increasing attention in educational planning and institutional management. Educational institutions are considered important platforms for developing awareness among young people, who can influence environmental practices within their families and communities.
By linking sustainability with student participation and campus-level activities, the programme seeks to move environmental education beyond theoretical lessons. Students will have opportunities to participate in conservation activities and understand the practical importance of responsible consumption.
India’s BRICS Chairship in 2026 has also provided an opportunity to highlight sustainable lifestyles as an area of collective action among participating countries. The initiative places emphasis on the role of individuals, educational institutions and communities in addressing environmental challenges through everyday decisions.
The UGC’s appeal is expected to bring universities and colleges into a coordinated nationwide effort to promote sustainable habits. The success of the programme will depend on the extent to which institutions translate the proposed activities into meaningful participation and continue adopting environmentally responsible practices after November 7.
The campaign also offers an opportunity for students to take leadership roles in environmental initiatives and encourage their peers to participate in activities that support cleaner and more sustainable communities.