Himachal Pradesh to ban mobile phones in schools from March

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday announced a blanket ban on mobile phone use by students in all government and private schools across Himachal Pradesh, a move aimed at curbing distractions in classrooms and strengthening academic focus. The ban will come into force from March 1, 2026.

The decision was unveiled at the closing ceremony of the 69th National School Games in Ghumarwin, Bilaspur district, where the chief minister addressed students, teachers and officials from across the country.

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Focus on discipline and learning environment

Sukhu said the state government was committed to delivering world-class education and ensuring that students are equipped to compete globally. Emphasising discipline in schools, he announced that any student found carrying a mobile phone would be fined Rs 500, with the device confiscated. Parents, he added, would be required to attend mandatory counselling sessions at the school.

To ensure uniform implementation, the Education Department has been directed to frame a Standard Operating Procedure to deal with repeat violations. “We have observed that the use of mobile phones during school hours and even lunch breaks diverts students from studies and hampers their social development,” the chief minister said.

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Recalling his own schooling in government institutions, Sukhu said improving the quality of education remained a personal priority for him.

The chief minister also used the occasion to underline the state’s push to promote sports and sports tourism. He announced employment opportunities for women athletes from Himachal Pradesh who recently represented India at the Asian Games and declared a cash award of Rs 20 lakh for the state’s Under-19 girls’ handball team, which won the national championship.

Sukhu further outlined key infrastructure plans, including the completion of the indoor stadium at Ghumarwin and a local school building within the next year, along with the construction of a new girls’ hostel at Morsingi.

The tournament concluded with Himachal Pradesh clinching the gold medal after defeating Rajasthan in the final, while Haryana secured third place. Around 30 teams from across the country participated in the championship.