Bengal CM calls for reducing screen time for students; says mobile phones should be restricted in schools
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has proposed restricting mobile phone usage in schools to mitigate negative impacts on students. Additionally, he announced the launch of new 'CM Shri' schools and committed to a transparent teacher recruitment process following judicial guidelines.
Why it matters
The policy reflects a growing trend in regional governance to regulate digital consumption among youth and reform public education infrastructure.
Observing that the use of mobile phones is creating a negative impact among children, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday (September 5, 2026) said that mobile phones should be restricted in schools.
The Chief Minister who was addressing a gathering on the occasion of Teachers Day said that unless we address such issues there is no such significance of reforms in education or observing Teachers’ Day.
“My votes may perhaps decrease. But I will still say that the use of phones in schools needs to be regulated. In Gujarat, phones are not used in schools from Class I to Class XII,” Mr. Adhikari said. Earlier this year the Karnataka government had said that it was mulling over a law for restricting mobile phones for children under 16 years.
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