The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday imposed a blanket ban on the use of cellphones by students within school premises all over the state.

State School Education Minister Thangam Thennarasu said it had been brought to the notice of the government by educationists, parents and the public that the students' attention was getting diverted due to the use of cellphones.

The number of students who were keen on sending SMSes instead of concentrating on studies had also increased, he said. The minister expressed hope that the ban on cellphones will be beneficial to students as they will show more interest in studies and emerge as outstanding students.

The state's School Education Secretary had been instructed to give necessary advice in this regard to students and their parents, Thennarasu added.