Bengaluru: Recent reports stating that HIV testing was being made mandatory in colleges across Karnataka had sparked curiosity and concern.
Even more concerning was the claim that 7,000 college students had tested HIV positive across the state, especially as the Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society (KSAPS) recently flagged a rise in infections among people aged 18 to 35 years.
The number of HIV patients in this age group had increased from 44,500 in 2023-24 to 66,600 in 2025-26, according to KSAPS data.
However, KSAPS has denied that colleges have made HIV testing mandatory, and also rejected media reports claiming thousands of students in Karnataka had tested positive for the deadly HIV.
KSAPS clarified in a press release that the reports were based on a “wrong interpretation” of official data and urged media organisations to publish the facts to prevent misinformation.
The media, KSAPS said, had incorrectly interpreted treatment data as referring to college students.
The society said that 39,028 people aged between 18 and 35 years had been receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) since 2004, but this figure was wrongly reported as meaning that 7,000 college students were infected with HIV.
“From 2004 till date, 39,028 infected people of age group between 18 and 35 years have been receiving ART (antiretroviral therapy) treatment. However, it has been wrongly interpreted by the media that 7,000 college students have been infected with HIV,” the press release said.
KSAPS said Karnataka has launched the Mobilisation for AIDS Suraksha (MAS) programme to curb the spread of HIV and raise awareness among college students through an eight-month Red Ribbon Awareness Campaign.
People are being encouraged to scan the breakfreeindia.org HIV Self Risk Assessment QR code to assess their risk. Those identified as being at risk are advised to undergo HIV testing.
KSAPS made it clear that the initiative is voluntary.
“According to the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017, HIV testing cannot be made mandatory and so it has not been made mandatory,” KSAPS said in the statement.
Scanning the QR code will help users assess their HIV risk and provide information on the nearest Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC) for confirmatory testing, if required.
