India News | Centre Strengthens Safeguards Against Digital Addiction; 11.37L+ Citizens Reached Through 6,650 Cyber Awareness Workshops

New Delhi [India], July 22 (ANI): The Government of India strengthened safeguards by leveraging the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act) alongside the Information Technology Rules, 2021 ("IT Rules") to establish a comprehensive framework against digital addiction, which aims to promote digital well-being, user safeguards, and responsible digital participation in the country.

According to the Ministry of Electronics & IT, the government is implementing a project on 'Information Security Education and Awareness (ISEA)' for generating human resources in Information Security and creating general awareness on various aspects of cyber hygiene & cyber security among the masses.

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So far, 6,650 awareness workshops have been conducted across the country covering 11.37 lakh+ participants, including school/colleges students, teachers, law enforcement, government personnel, and the general public.

Further, multilingual awareness material in the form of handbooks, short videos, posters, brochures, cartoon stories for children, etc. has been published and disseminated through print, electronic, social media and www.isea.gov.in & https://staysafeonline.in/.

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CERT-In also regularly shares safety and security tips and awareness posters, infographics and videos on its official websites and social media handles and is aimed at sensitising internet users on cybersecurity attacks and frauds, including online safety measures for children.

The Ministry of Education issued the PRAGYATA Guidelines on Digital Education in July 2020, which provide a framework for safe and effective online learning, including promotion of students' well-being and responsible use of social media and electronic devices.

CBSE has supplemented these efforts through guidelines on digital etiquette, cyber-security training for teachers, publication of the 'Cyber Security Handbook', and advisories to schools for establishing Cyber Clubs to promote cyber safety awareness.

NCERT has also incorporated cyber safety in its curriculum, including a chapter on "Societal Impacts" in Classes XI and XII, and CIET-NCERT has developed and disseminated resource materials on cyber safety.

Additonally, recent amendments to IT Rules require social media platforms and other intermediaries to remove unlawful content within three hours of the receipt of an order of a court of competent jurisdiction or reasoned intimation by the Appropriate Government or its agency.

The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 ("DPDP Act") aims to establish the legal framework to regulate the processing of digital personal data. The DPDP Act provides a legal framework for safeguarding children's privacy online.

The law mandates parental consent for processing children's personal data and prohibits practices detrimental to their well-being, such as tracking, behavioural monitoring or targeted advertising towards children.

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, represents a major step to address digital addiction and financial harm among youth.

As per the IT Ministry, Section 79(3) (b) of the IT Act, 2000 provides for notification to the intermediaries for removing/disabling access to unlawful content. Based on complaints, the Government regularly takes action against such intermediaries and OTT Platforms. The government has disabled 50 OTT Platforms for public access in India in the last two years for displaying obscene content and for violation of Section 67 and 67A of the IT Act, Section 294 of the BNS and Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.

The Economic Survey 2025-26 mentions digital addiction as a serious public health challenge affecting India's children and youth, particularly those aged 15-29 who enjoy near-universal smartphone and internet access.

The Survey further highlights its profound impacts on cognitive development, academic performance, workplace productivity, social connectedness, and mental health, manifesting as anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, cyberbullying, and financial losses from compulsive gaming, social media, and online gambling.

This information was submitted by the Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, in Lok Sabha today. (ANI)

(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)