Karnataka mandates gynaecological check-ups for girls, sex education in schools

The circular is a culmination of a series of measures initiated in June 2025 over concerns about rising cases of child marriage and teenage pregnancy in the State.

The Karnataka government has recently issued a joint circular, with multiple concerned departments on board, on measures to ensure the well-being of students across all schools, colleges, hostels, residential schools, and training institutions in the State.

These measures include conducting mandatory check-ups for all girls in schools by a gynaecologist, the provision of sex education, and the creation of awareness among children regarding child rights, issues concerning teenage pregnancies, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, child marriage, and the Child Helpline (1098). Furthermore, the installation of CCTV cameras has been made mandatory in all schools and colleges.

A warning has also been issued stating that failure to prevent — or negligence in addressing — cases of child marriage, teenage pregnancy, and incidents falling under the POCSO Act, 2012, will result in both legal action and disciplinary proceedings against the officials concerned.

The circular is a culmination of a series of measures initiated in June 2025 over concerns about rising cases of child marriage and teenage pregnancy in the State.

Among the measures prescribed is the formation of Child Protection Committees in educational institutions across the State. The committee, comprising parents, children, and teachers, must meet once every three months, and the proceedings of these meetings should be duly recorded, the circular noted.

Schools and residential schools must install complaint boxes and take measures to address the grievances of girl students. It has been mandated that experienced and qualified counsellors be appointed in schools and Pre-University (PU) colleges to address the mental health and other challenges faced by adolescent students. Teachers must persuade parents to re-enrol girls who have dropped out of school and ensure that they continue their education until the age of 18. They must also take measures to prevent school-going children from being subjected to child labour.

Children should be provided with appropriate education to help them understand and identify issues such as crimes against children, child labour, child trafficking, sexual abuse, and child marriage through both formal and informal educational curricula. They should also be taught to recognise any form of abuse, violence, discrimination, or exploitation directed against them, whether within educational institutions or elsewhere, the circular said.

“If a girl student in a school or residential school remains absent for more than three days without providing any notification, the principal must inform the gram panchayat and the child helpline (1098) in writing. The Health Department has stated that appropriate legal action must be taken against shops selling abortion pills without a doctor’s prescription, as well as against doctors and members of the public involved in unauthorised abortion activities,” the circular said.

Additionally, the guidelines emphasise the need to raise awareness among children about the dangers of substance abuse and drug addiction, alongside conducting regular screenings for such issues. They stipulate that such awareness should also be integrated into the school curriculum.