The Karnataka government has announced a ban on social media use for children below the age of 16 as part of its 2026–27 budget, citing concerns over the growing impact of mobile phone usage on students’ well-being and academic environment. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah made the announcement in the Legislative Assembly on Friday while presenting the state budget.
The measure aims to address the adverse effects of increased digital exposure among schoolchildren and forms part of a broader set of reforms in the education sector intended to improve student welfare, learning outcomes and institutional infrastructure.
Presenting the budget, Siddaramaiah stated that the restriction on social media access for children under 16 is intended to reduce the negative consequences associated with excessive mobile phone use among young students. The government has indicated that the decision reflects rising concerns about the psychological and behavioural effects of digital platforms on school-age children.
The proposal follows earlier remarks by Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa, who had said that the government was seriously examining the possibility of restricting social media access for schoolchildren.
Alongside the digital restriction, the state government announced several initiatives focused on student mental health and institutional support systems. The budget proposes the appointment of one qualified mental health counsellor at each of the 204 Block Resource Centres across Karnataka to strengthen psychological support services available to students.
The government has also outlined plans to introduce stricter measures to curb drug use within educational institutions. Authorities said awareness campaigns, regulatory measures and the establishment of support centres will be implemented to address substance abuse in schools, colleges and universities.
In a move aimed at expanding access to higher education, the government will upgrade 184 Government Higher Primary Schools into High Schools and convert 50 High Schools into Pre-University Colleges. The expansion follows an earlier commitment made in the 2025–26 budget and is intended to enable students to continue their education without relocating to distant institutions.
The budget also includes administrative reforms aimed at simplifying regulatory procedures for private schools. The process for obtaining and renewing institutional recognition will now be conducted through an online system, allowing schools to submit applications and documents digitally.
To strengthen public education infrastructure, the government announced plans to convert 800 institutions into Karnataka Public Schools. Of these, 500 schools will be developed with financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank, 200 will receive funding from the Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board and 100 will be supported by the Karnataka Mining Environment Restoration Corporation.
The initiative is expected to involve an expenditure of ₹3,900 crore over the next three years.
Infrastructure development in government schools has also been allocated significant funding. The budget earmarks ₹565 crore for constructing new classrooms and carrying out repair works across government primary schools, high schools and Pre-University Colleges. An additional ₹75 crore will be used to construct toilets, while ₹25 crore will be allocated for school furniture.
To support routine operations, ₹125 crore will be provided for the maintenance of government primary schools, high schools and Pre-University Colleges. The funds will be transferred directly to School and College Development Committees to facilitate local management of institutional requirements.
The government also plans to introduce bilingual teaching in government primary schools by training teachers in English language instruction. The programme will be implemented at an estimated cost of ₹24 crore.
In addition, the state will introduce an AI-based learning support system for approximately 12.28 lakh students studying in Classes 8 to 12. Developed in collaboration with IIT Dharwad, the initiative will provide a personalised digital self-learning tutor designed to assist students with academic preparation.
The project is estimated to cost ₹5 crore.
Addressing staffing gaps in educational institutions, the government also announced that 15,000 vacant teaching posts in schools and colleges will be filled during the 2026–27 academic year.
The measures collectively signal a broader restructuring of Karnataka’s education policy, combining digital regulation, mental health support, infrastructure expansion and technology-driven learning initiatives aimed at improving the overall academic ecosystem.
