The Karnataka government, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, announced this policy during the 2026-27 state budget presentation on March 6, 2026. The decision aims to mitigate the adverse effects of excessive mobile and social media usage on the mental health and academic performance of school-going children. The state had previously held consultations through its IT and Biotechnology department regarding responsible artificial intelligence and digital platform usage. This move makes Karnataka one of the first states in India to propose such an age-restricted digital policy.