Karnataka clarifies HIV testing not mandatory in colleges

Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society (KSAPS) said HIV testing is not mandatory under the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017.

KSAPS denied reports that 7,000 college students tested HIV positive; the figure (39,028 people aged 18-35 on antiretroviral therapy since 2004) was misinterpreted.

The Mobilisation for AIDS Suraksha (MAS) programme uses an eight-month Red Ribbon awareness campaign with a voluntary HIV self-risk assessment QR code.

KSAPS urged media to correct the misinformation about mandatory testing in colleges.