West Bengal drops ₹10,000 mobile aid for senior school students
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced the termination of the one-time ₹10,000 grant for class 11 and 12 pupils to purchase smartphones, a scheme launched by the previous TMC administration.
Suvendu Adhikari, chief minister of West Bengal, declared that the state will cease the one-time ₹10,000 subsidy for class 11 and 12 students to buy smartphones, tablets or computers. The grant was part of the Trinamool Congress’s ‘Taruner Swapno’ initiative launched in 2022. While the BJP government plans to increase spending on modern school facilities, it will not continue funding mobile phones.
Adhikari cited Gujarat’s school policy that bans phones for students up to class 12, arguing that phones distract learners and may affect electoral support. He hinted that a ban could be contemplated, despite potential political costs. The move marks a shift from the previous administration’s focus on digital device subsidies toward infrastructure investment.
Why it matters
The decision changes how West Bengal supports digital access for senior students, affecting education policy and political dynamics.
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