Archive · 31 Jul 2026
Karnataka HIV Student Claim Debunked by KSAPS
Some news said that almost 7,000 college students in Karnataka had HIV, but the state AIDS group said that is wrong.
They said the number was made up from a mistake in the data.
The state government wants all colleges to hold free health camps where students can choose to get tested.
The real number of students with HIV is only one or two.
Karnataka has a lot of people with HIV, about 2.6 million, and many more who still don’t know they have it.
The camps are meant to help people learn about HIV and get help if they need it.
Reports claimed nearly 7,000 Karnataka college students were HIV-positive, but KSAPS says the figure is incorrect.
KSAPS attributes the claim to a misinterpretation of official data and labels the 7,000 figure as false.
Karnataka government has ordered all government-aided and private engineering and degree colleges to hold voluntary Integrated Health Camps for HIV testing and counseling.
Padma Basavanthappa, KSAPS Project Director, states only one or two college students are HIV-positive, with about 39,000 people aged 18‑35 testing positive since 2004.
Karnataka has the third‑highest HIV caseload in India, with 2.6 lakh reported cases and an estimated 54,000 undiagnosed.
- Who
- Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society, Padma Basavanthappa, Karnataka government
- What
- Debunking a claim of 7,000 HIV-positive college students and announcing voluntary health camps
- When
- Reports emerged two days ago
- Where
- Karnataka, India
- Why
- To correct misinformation and promote voluntary HIV testing
- Reported HIV-positive students
- 7,000 (claimed)
- Actual HIV-positive college students
- 1–2
- Total HIV-positive 18‑35 age group since 2004
- 39,000
- Karnataka HIV caseload
- 2.6 lakh
- Undiagnosed cases
- 54,000
- Testing policy
- Voluntary Integrated Health Camps