UGC tells every college to go green for 7 days from Nov 1: what your campus must do
By TUF News Desk · Published 31 October 2026 · 3 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
Starting November 1, colleges and universities across India will spend a week on one subject most campuses usually leave to posters on a wall. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked every higher education institution to observe BRICS Sustainable Lifestyle Week (BSLW) 2026 from November 1 to 7, and it has laid out one theme for each day.
The instruction came in a UGC communication dated October 30, 2026. The week runs under Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) and forms part of India’s BRICS Chairship in 2026. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has drawn up the day-wise plan that institutions are expected to follow.
The UGC has asked institutions to run awareness programmes, campus activities and community initiatives through the week, aimed at students, faculty members and staff. All departments, constituent units and field centres are expected to take part, with green clubs and NSS and NCC units bringing students in. Colleges have also been asked to put up BSLW and Mission LiFE publicity material on campus, including on digital display boards, and to share photos, videos and success stories with the hashtags #MissionLiFE, #Proplanetpeople and #BRICSforLiFE.
Seven days, seven themes
| Date | Theme | Suggested activities |
|---|---|---|
| November 1 | Adopt healthy lifestyles | Yoga, walkathons, tree plantation and the LiFE pledge |
| November 2 | Save energy | Switch off non-essential electrical appliances for an hour, plus awareness sessions |
| November 3 | Save water | Rainwater harvesting, leak repairs and awareness campaigns |
| November 4 | Adopt sustainable food systems | Promote millets, traditional diets and food-waste reduction |
| November 5 | Say no to single-use plastics | Plogging drives and reusable bags and bottles |
| November 6 | Reduce e-waste | E-waste collection, recycling and repair awareness |
| November 7 | Reduce waste | Community clean-up drives and waste-to-art installations |
What colleges have to file
The week also comes with paperwork for institutions. Each one must nominate a nodal officer, who registers on the MoEFCC’s Meri LiFE portal and uploads details of the activities held. The ministry has been running daily online orientation sessions from October 27 to November 7 through Webex, in two slots, 11 am to 1 pm and 3 pm to 5 pm.
Once the week ends, the filing is not over. Institutions must submit a brief report of their activities and best practices on the Meri LiFE portal by November 12, 2026. The UGC’s own site, ugc.gov.in, carries its circulars for institutions that need the original communication.
For students, the practical step is small. Check your college notice board, green club or NSS chapter in the next day or two to see what it has planned for November 1 to 7, since events will differ from campus to campus. The directive covers every kind of institution, from central, state and private universities to their affiliated colleges, so a campus that stays silent all week will be the exception. Students still weighing where to study can read our guide to choosing a university in India on judging a campus beyond its brochure.
Frequently asked questions
When is BRICS Sustainable Lifestyle Week 2026?
It runs from November 1 to 7, 2026, in universities and colleges across India, under Mission LiFE and as part of India’s BRICS Chairship in 2026.
What are the seven daily themes?
November 1 covers healthy lifestyles, November 2 energy saving, November 3 water saving, November 4 sustainable food, November 5 saying no to single-use plastic, November 6 reducing e-waste, and November 7 reducing waste.
Do students have to do anything?
The UGC has asked institutions to involve students through green clubs, NSS and NCC units, so students can join the activities their own college organises during the week.
What must colleges file after the week?
Each institution nominates a nodal officer to upload its activities on the Meri LiFE portal, and must submit a brief report of its activities and best practices there by November 12, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
When is BRICS Sustainable Lifestyle Week 2026?
It runs from November 1 to 7, 2026, in universities and colleges across India, under Mission LiFE and as part of India's BRICS Chairship in 2026.
What are the seven daily themes?
November 1 covers healthy lifestyles, November 2 energy saving, November 3 water saving, November 4 sustainable food, November 5 saying no to single-use plastic, November 6 reducing e-waste, and November 7 reducing waste.
Do students have to do anything?
The UGC has asked institutions to involve students through green clubs, NSS and NCC units, so students can join the activities their own college organises during the week.
What must colleges file after the week?
Each institution nominates a nodal officer to upload its activities on the Meri LiFE portal, and must submit a brief report of its activities and best practices there by November 12, 2026.
Sources: The Times of India, The Telegraph