India Economic Survey Labels Digital Addiction a Silent Scourge

The Government of India identified digital addiction as a "silent scourge" and a critical productivity risk in the Economic Survey 2025-26. Tabled in Parliament by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the report highlights a mental health crisis among youth aged 15-24, linking compulsive screen use to academic decline and behavioral disorders.

To combat these trends, the survey recommends implementing age-based access to online platforms and holding companies accountable for age verification and age-appropriate defaults. Other proposed interventions include promoting basic phones, creating offline youth hubs, and introducing a Digital Wellness Curriculum in schools. Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran noted that the governments of Andhra Pradesh and Goa are considering social media restrictions for children under 16.

These recommendations follow the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act 2025, which banned real-money online games on October 1, 2025. Current mental health infrastructure includes the Tele-MANAS 24/7 helpline and the SHUT Clinic at NIMHANS in Bengaluru. Additionally, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is conducting the Second National Mental Health Survey to gather empirical data on prevalence. Health experts, including Dharminder Nagar, have urged the government to move beyond awareness toward mandating physical activity in schools and increasing platform accountability.