Bengal CM calls for reducing screen time for students; says mobile phones should be restricted in schools
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced that two ‘CM Shri’ schools, modelled after PM Shri schools, will be opened in each district
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari called for restricted use of mobile phones in schools, noting the negative impact on children, during a Teachers Day event on September 5, 2026. Adhikari, speaking in Kolkata, emphasized the need to address such issues despite potential reductions in his party's votes. He highlighted that Gujarat has already banned mobile phone usage in schools from Class I to XII.
The Chief Minister also announced the establishment of two 'CM Shri' schools in each district, modeled after PM Shri schools, with admission based on merit and equipped with modern facilities like smart boards. Additionally, he pledged to recruit teachers transparently, adhering to Supreme Court and Calcutta High Court directives, with a focus on merit-based selection and limiting viva voce marks to five.
The West Bengal Legislative Assembly recently passed two OBC amendment bills in June 2026, returning the state's OBC list to the original 66 categories from the 2010 revision. Corruption allegations in previous teacher recruitment under the Trinamool Congress government led to arrests of prominent party leaders, including former Education Minister Partha Chatterjee.
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