CM Sukhu on Thursday announced a statewide ban on the use of mobile phones by students in all government and private schools of Himachal Pradesh, effective from 1 March 2026. The decision aims to improve the academic environment and ensure the overall well-being of students.
The announcement was made during the closing ceremony of the 69th National School Games Under-19 Girls Handball Tournament held at Ghumarwin in Bilaspur district. Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said the state government was committed to providing world-class education so that students from Himachal could compete at the global level.
Under the new policy, students will not be allowed to bring mobile phones to school premises. Any violation will invite a fine of ₹500, confiscation of the device, and mandatory counselling of parents by the school authorities. The Education Department has been directed to frame a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to deal with repeated violations.
The Chief Minister said that excessive mobile phone usage during school hours and lunch breaks was adversely affecting students’ concentration, learning habits and social interaction. Recalling his own education in government schools, he reiterated his resolve to strengthen the quality of education in the state.
Highlighting the government’s focus on sports and sports tourism, Sukhu announced that women athletes from Himachal Pradesh who represented the country in the Asian Games would be provided employment opportunities. He also announced a cash award of ₹20 lakh for the Himachal Pradesh team that won the National School Games Handball Championship.
The Chief Minister further informed that the daily diet allowance for student-athletes has been enhanced to ₹400 for state-level events and ₹500 for national-level competitions. Players travelling more than 200 kilometres are now being provided air travel facilities to ensure better performance.
On the infrastructure front, he directed authorities to expedite the completion of the indoor stadium at Ghumarwin and the local school building within a year. He also announced the construction of a new girls’ hostel at Morsingi.
The tournament concluded with Himachal Pradesh winning the gold medal after defeating Rajasthan in the final, while Haryana secured third place. A total of 30 teams from across the country participated in the championship.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
