Economic Survey calls for tackling rising digital addiction and screen-related mental health problems
GS2Polity · Governance · IR· Health policy & public health· Prelims + Mains·
Why in news
The Economic Survey 2025-26 highlighted rising digital addiction and screen-related mental health issues as a major healthcare concern, recommending a shift toward preventive healthcare and platform accountability.
Background
The Economic Survey 2025-26 proposed expanding the Tele-MANAS program to address digital addiction. It recommended interventions such as cyber-safety education, parental training on screen-time management, and integrating health systems with schools.
Facts for Prelims
- SchemeTele-MANAS: A government initiative to provide mental health support, proposed for expansion to address digital addiction.
- FactEconomic Survey 2025-26: Identified digital addiction as a major healthcare concern for children and adolescents.
- FactPreventive Healthcare: The Survey recommended a shift from a treatment-centric model to a preventive approach for non-communicable diseases.
For Mains
Q. Discuss the implications of rising digital addiction on public health and evaluate the shift toward a preventive healthcare model in India.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Institutional bottleneck: Lack of standardized protocols for platform accountability regarding harmful content for minors
- Policy trade-off: Balancing individual digital rights with state-led interventions for mental health surveillance
- Infrastructure gap: Need for community-level health systems to support technology-enabled public health surveillance
Keywords: Preventive Healthcare · Digital Addiction · Non-communicable Diseases · Public Health Surveillance · Platform Accountability
More Social Justice notes
- Women’s enrolment in higher education up by 34% due to 'Pudhumai Penn' scheme: T.N. CM Stalin · 10 February 2026
- Over 18,700 government schools in Karnataka have no land records · 10 February 2026
- Why is there a caste-system for trains, asks PAC · 10 February 2026
- Three-language panel submits report to Maharashtra government · 10 February 2026
- West Bengal remains destination and source of Bonded Labour · 9 February 2026
- State unveils R&D vision document for higher education · 9 February 2026
Something wrong, or something missing?
Spotted a mistake in a note, or want a topic, format or PDF that would help your preparation? Write to us. We read every mail and fix errors fast.
Report a mistake →Ask for something →thesatyadheesh@gmail.com
This note is generated automatically from SatyaDheesh's news feed and mapped to the UPSC CSE syllabus. Check facts against the original report or PIB before using them in an answer.