Students caught playing UNO or other card games may face fines and parental summons, says college notice.
UNO, the popular card game played across generations and cultures, has long been a staple at family gatherings, hostels, school breaks and house parties. Easy to learn and widely enjoyed, it is often seen as harmless fun.
However, a Delhi-based engineering college has now decided to ban UNO and other card games on its campus, with authorities also planning to impose fines on students found playing the game.
The issue came to light after a former student of the college, using the handle @shydev on X, posted, “UNO is banned in my college, fine ₹25k.” The post quickly went viral.
Speaking to indianexpress.com, the user identified the institution as Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Engineering, New Delhi. A photograph of an official notice issued by the college stated: “All the students are hereby notified that playing cards/UNO cards is strictly prohibited in the college campus including canteen premises/college ground.”
The notice further warned that “if any student is found indulged in such activity, their parents will be called and appropriate fine will be imposed.”
The announcement triggered widespread reactions online, with the post amassing close to three lakh views. Many users criticised the move, calling it excessive. “Calling the parents of an adult to complain about them is ridiculous. Indian colleges are such a joke — still operating like primary schools,” one user wrote. Another joked, “Someone definitely gave the college principal a +4 on a +4.”
Others questioned the approach altogether. “Do they seriously contact your parents as a college student in India? That seems kind of ridiculous,” a third user commented.
According to unovariations.com, UNO was first created in the early 1970s by Merle Robbins, a barber from Ohio. Inspired by traditional card games, Robbins introduced unique rules and twists before manufacturing and distributing UNO cards worldwide in 1971.
