Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday ordered a complete ban on the use of mobile phones by students in all government and private schools across the state. The ban will be effective from March 1, 2026.
The declaration was made at the closing ceremony of the 69th National School Games Under-19 Girls Handball Tournament organised in Ghumarwin, Bilaspur district.
Speaking at the event, CM Sukhu said the state government is committed to providing world-class education so that students can compete at the international level.
He outlined strict enforcement measures, saying any student found carrying a mobile phone would be fined Rs 500 and the device would be confiscated.
“Parents will also be required to attend mandatory counselling sessions at the school. To ensure long-term compliance, the Education Department has been asked to frame a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to deal with repeated violations,” he said.
“It has been observed that mobile phone usage during lunch breaks and school hours distracts students from their studies and interpersonal growth,” Sukhu said.
Referring to his own background as a product of the government school system, he reiterated his commitment to improving the quality of education.
Sukhu also highlighted the state government’s strong push to promote sports and sports tourism. He said that employment opportunities would be provided to women athletes from Himachal Pradesh who recently competed in the Asian Games.
To mark the victory of the Himachal team in the National Handball Championship, he announced a cash award of Rs 20 lakh.
During the event, Sukhu also outlined several infrastructure plans, including speeding up the completion of the indoor stadium in Ghumarwin and the local school building within the next year.
He further announced the construction of a new girls’ hostel at Morsingi. The 69th National School Games concluded with Himachal Pradesh winning the gold medal after defeating Rajasthan in the final, while Haryana secured third place. The tournament saw participation from 30 teams across the country.
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