India, July 30 -- The Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society (KSAPS) has denied reports of HIV testing being made mandatory in colleges across the state. The KSAPS also rejecting media reports that claimed 7,000 college students in Karnataka had tested HIV positive.

In a press release dated July 29, KSAPS said the reports were based on a "wrong interpretation" of official data and requested media organisations to publish the clarification to prevent misinformation.

The clarification comes amid the rollout of the Mobilisation for AIDS Suraksha (MAS) programme, an eight-month Red Ribbon awareness campaign aimed at educating college students and the public about HIV prevention.

KSAPS said the state has launched the Mobilisation for AIDS ...