The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has banned the use of mobile phones in the schools affiliated with the board, with immediate effect in a bid to maintain discipline and study atmosphere in the premises.

The ban will cover not only the students, but also the faculty members and the non- teaching staff of schools, to promote educational activities. All schools are directed to provide land line phones for students and teachers to make calls in case of any emergency.

The board claims that mobiles are major cause of distraction, concentration, anxiety and misuse. Cell phones also create disturbance in classroom, affecting the concentration of both the teachers and the students. The board also urged the parents to discourage their wards from using cell phones.

CBSE said in a statement: "Even if the mobiles are in silent mode, they can be a source of disturbance within the classroom as students can make use of Short Messaging Service (SMS) during the class or even during an assignment. The cameras which are a common feature now in most mobile phones can also be misused."