Noida schools screen time cap

The India — Gautam Buddha Nagar district district administration in Uttar Pradesh, India, issued a directive on August 13, 2026, capping daily screen time for students in all government, aided, and private schools in India — Noida and India — Greater Noida. Following complaints from parents' associations that children were spending four to five hours a day using smart and digital boards, the administration set limits of 30 minutes per day for primary students and 60 minutes for upper-primary students. The directive, issued by District Magistrate Medha Roopam, emphasizes that smart boards should be used as a supplementary teaching tool, not a substitute for traditional methods. Schools are required to use blackboards, whiteboards, or greenboards for writing and interactive activities, maintain appropriate screen brightness and lighting, and provide breaks every 20 minutes. The guidelines also reference the 20-20-20 rule and India — National Council of Educational Research and Training recommendations for online classes, and encourage digital-free periods and quarterly eye examinations. Compliance will be monitored by designated magistrates and nodal officers, with reports submitted through the District Inspector of Schools.