Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday announced that students will be banned from using mobile phones in all government and private schools across the state from March 1, 2026.
The Chief Minister said that the decision was taken as a step to improve the academic environment and protect the welfare of the students. He stated this during the closing ceremony of the 69th Under-19 Girls National School Handball Tournament held at Ghumarwin in Bilaspur district.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Sukhu said the state government was committed to providing world-class education to enable local students to compete on the global stage.
“Under the new regulations, students will no longer be allowed to carry mobile devices into school premises,” he said, adding that any student found with a phone would face a fine of ₹500 and confiscation of the device.
SOP for compliance
“In addition, parents will be required to attend mandatory counseling sessions at the school. To ensure long-term compliance, the Ministry of Education has been tasked with developing a standard operating procedure (SOP) to address repeated violations,” he said.
“It has been observed that the use of mobile phones during lunch breaks and school hours distracts students from their studies and interpersonal growth,” the Chief Minister said.
During the event, the Chief Minister set several infrastructure targets, including the fast-track completion of the Ghumarwin Indoor Stadium and the local school building within the next year.
Highlighting the state’s efforts to promote sports and sports tourism, Mr. Sukhu noted that the state government would provide employment opportunities to female athletes from Himachal Pradesh who recently competed in the Asian Games.
Published – 06 Feb 2026 0:14 IST
