World Happiness Report 2026: Finland #1, India #116; Social Media Use Linked to Lower Well-being Among Youth

Meta Pays $17.1 Bn Settlement Over Child Addiction; India Weighs Age-Based Social Media Curbs

Meta's $17.1 billion settlement with US states over child addiction on Instagram/Facebook provides a blueprint for India's proposed social media restrictions for minors. India is considering age-based curbs, daily limits, and parental consent laws, making this a key policy development for exam focus on digital governance and child protection.

World Bank Report: Extreme Heat Costs South Asia 31 Million Jobs, 7% GDP by 2050

World Bank report warns extreme heat costs South Asia 31 million jobs annually and threatens 7% GDP loss by 2050. It urges governments to treat heat as a core development challenge, not a seasonal emergency. Essential for UPSC: climate-economy linkages, urban resilience, and vulnerable worker protection.

Meta Trial: $567 Mn Penalty for Child Addiction, 29-State Probe on Social Media Design

A US trial against Meta over addictive social media design for children could reshape Big Tech accountability. With penalties of $567 million and a $6 million jury verdict, this case highlights the growing scrutiny of platform design and its impact on youth mental health, a key issue for GS2 (Social Justice) and GS3 (Technology).

India Rejects UNCERD Report Alleging Discrimination Against SCs, STs, Rohingya; Cites Constitutional Safeguards

India has officially rejected the UNCERD report that alleged racial discrimination against Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Rohingya refugees. The report also criticized the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam and the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. This news is crucial for understanding India's stance on international human rights obligations and domestic citizenship issues.

EU Proposes Ban on Social Media & AI Chatbots for Under-15s Under EU Kids Act

The European Commission will propose sweeping restrictions on under-15s' access to social media, AI chatbots, and online games as part of a new EU Kids Act. The proposal includes age-gated access tiers, mandatory parental controls, addiction prevention, and a supervisory fee on tech companies. This signals a major global regulatory shift on child online safety with implications for digital governance frameworks.

EU Proposes KIDS Act with Tiered Social Media Ban for Under 13 and Limits Until 15

EU proposes landmark KIDS Act banning social media for under-13s and limiting access for 13-15 year olds to supervised mini accounts with 1 hour daily limit. Fines up to 6% of annual turnover for non-compliance. This global precedent may influence India's child safety regulations and is relevant for GS2 (governance) and GS3 (cyber security).

WEF Global Gender Gap Index 2026: India Ranked 131st with 64.5% Parity, Iceland Leads at 93%

The World Economic Forum released its 2026 Global Gender Gap Index, covering 145 economies. India retained 131st rank with 64.5% parity, below global average of 69.2%. Iceland tops with 93% parity for the 17th consecutive year. Key dimensions: Economic Participation (61.7%) and Political Empowerment (22.1%) remain widest gaps.

Google, Meta Agree to Report Child Abuse Material Directly to Indian Authorities; Break from NCMEC Practice

Google and Meta have agreed to report child sexual abuse material (CSAM) directly to Indian authorities, bypassing the US-based National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). This follows Indian government pressure citing delays in the existing global routing system, which received over 21.3 million reports in 2025. The move signals a shift towards data sovereignty and faster law enforcement action in child protection.