Bengaluru, March 6 Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Friday that the use of social media will be banned for children under the age of 16, and strict action will be taken to prevent drug abuse in schools, colleges, and universities.
Presenting the state budget for 2026-27, he assured that 15,000 vacant teaching positions in schools and colleges will be filled in the next fiscal year.
"With the objective of preventing the adverse effects of increasing mobile usage on children, the use of social media will be banned for children under the age of 16," he said.
He announced that a grant of ₹565 crore will be provided for the construction of new classrooms and repair work in government primary and high schools, and Pre-University Colleges, ₹75 crore for the construction of toilets, and ₹25 crore for the procurement of furniture in schools.
A grant of ₹125 crore will be made for the maintenance of government primary, high schools, and Pre-University Colleges.
Emphasizing that schools, colleges, and universities play a crucial role in shaping the health, character, and future of students, he said that the government will take firm measures, including awareness and educational campaigns, strict discipline, and the establishment of dedicated support and counseling centers, in order to curb the menace of drug abuse within these campuses.
With the slogan "Uttama Kalike, Ujjwala Bhavishya" (Better Learning, Brighter Future), 800 schools will be upgraded to Karnataka Public Schools (KPS). This will facilitate providing quality education under one roof.
According to him, an expenditure of ₹3,900 crore will be incurred for this purpose over the next three years.
To alleviate stress and improve the mental health of students, one qualified mental health counselor will be appointed to each of the 204 Block Resource Centers.
To implement bilingual classes in government primary schools and to enhance the capacity of primary school teachers, an English language training program will be organized at a cost of ₹24 crore.
Under the Vidya Vikas Scheme, activity books for pre-primary students, value education books for Classes 1 to 10, and textbooks for Pre-University students will be provided free of cost from 2026-27.
In collaboration with IIT Dharwad, a Personalized Self-Learning Digital Tutor facility using AI technology will be provided to approximately 12.28 lakh students from Classes 8 to 12 at an estimated cost of ₹5 crore.