Karnataka's Bold Move: Social Media Ban for Kids Under 16 and Major Educational Reforms

Karnataka's New Educational Initiatives

Bengaluru: On Friday, Karnataka's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced a significant policy change aimed at protecting children. He revealed that social media usage will be prohibited for individuals under 16 years old, alongside stringent measures to combat drug abuse in educational institutions.

During the presentation of the 2026-27 state budget, he committed to filling 15,000 vacant teaching positions across schools and colleges in the upcoming fiscal year.

The Chief Minister emphasized the need to mitigate the negative impacts of excessive mobile usage on youth, stating, "To prevent adverse effects, social media will be banned for children under 16."

A budget allocation of Rs 565 crore has been earmarked for constructing new classrooms and undertaking repairs in government primary, high schools, and Pre-University Colleges. Additionally, Rs 75 crore will be dedicated to building toilets, while Rs 25 crore will be allocated for acquiring furniture for schools.

Furthermore, Rs 125 crore will be set aside for the upkeep of government primary schools, high schools, and Pre-University Colleges.

Highlighting the crucial role of educational institutions in shaping students' health and character, he assured that the government would implement robust measures, including awareness campaigns, strict discipline, and the establishment of dedicated support and counseling centers to address drug abuse on campuses.

Under the initiative titled "Uttama Kalike, Ujjwala Bhavishya" (Better Learning, Brighter Future), 800 schools will be upgraded to Karnataka Public Schools (KPS), aiming to provide quality education in a unified environment.

An investment of Rs 3,900 crore is projected for this initiative over the next three years.

To support students' mental well-being, a qualified mental health counselor will be appointed at each of the 204 Block Resource Centres.

Additionally, a Rs 24 crore English language training program will be launched to implement bilingual classes in government primary schools and enhance teachers' skills.

As part of the Vidya Vikas Scheme, free activity books for pre-primary students, value education books for Classes 1 to 10, and textbooks for Pre-University students will be distributed starting in 2026-27.

In partnership with IIT Dharwad, an AI-driven Personalized Self-Learning Digital Tutor will be made available to around 12.28 lakh students from Classes 8 to 12, with an estimated cost of Rs 5 crore.