BENGAL RECONSIDERS STUDENT PHONE AID, EYES EDUCATION-FOCUSED TABLETS

September 30, 2026

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has indicated that the state government is considering replacing financial assistance for mobile phones given to Class 11 students with support for education-oriented tablets.

Speaking at a programme in Howrah, Adhikari said the government was reviewing the existing arrangement amid concerns over excessive mobile-phone use among school students. He said the Education Secretary had already been asked to examine the proposal.

Under the earlier system, Class 11 students received ₹10,000 to purchase mobile phones. Adhikari said the government could provide additional funding, if necessary, for tablets specifically intended to support educational activities instead.

The proposed change is linked to the government's broader concerns about the use of smartphones by students in schools. Adhikari has previously spoken about restricting mobile-phone use among schoolchildren and has pointed to the possible educational consequences of excessive screen time.

The proposal remains under consideration, and no final decision on replacing the existing assistance scheme has been announced. If implemented, the new arrangement would shift the focus of the financial support from general-purpose mobile phones towards devices intended primarily for learning and academic use.

The announcement came during the launch of the state's Sarathi bicycle distribution scheme, under which students are also being provided assistance to support their access to educational institutions.