Lok Sabha Question No. 2236 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-12
Subject: Protection of Women and Children
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Murasoli S

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2236

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2025

## PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN

## 2236: SHRI MURASOLI S:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government,  in  coordination  with  other  concerned  Ministries/through collaborations/agreements with major social media platforms, proposes to introduce age restrictions/verification  mechanisms  for  social  media  usage  to  protect  children  from harmful abusive/adult content to ensure a safer and more positive digital environment, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Ministry  is  considering  Aadhaar/DigiLocker-based  verification  for  social media accounts to enable easier tracking of fake/abusive users/cybercriminals to ensure stringent accountability without compromising privacy, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the measures being taken to strengthen coordination with social media platforms and law enforcement agencies to curb online harassment, ensure women's  safety/promote responsible/positive digital behaviour among women and children; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)

(a)  to  (d):  The  Government  accords  highest  priority  for  ensuring  the  safety  and  security  of children and has undertaken various interventions in this regard. The Ministry of Electronics and Information  Technology  (MeitY)  has  informed  that  it  has  undertaken  several  initiatives  to strengthen online safety and protection of users recognising that the digital devices and online platforms, while being useful for education, communication, and entertainment, may also lead to  risks  such  as  exposure  to  harmful  content,  cyberbullying  and  privacy  breaches  etc.  These include:

- i. The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 ('Intermediary Rules, 2021') notified under the Information Technology Act, 2000, which obligates intermediaries to act against unlawful and harmful content, maintain

a time-bound grievance redressal mechanism, ensure time-bound removal or takedown of such information, and provide information and assistance to law enforcement agencies. The unlawful information comprises any information that, among other things, is obscene, pornographic,  paedophilic,  invasive  of  another's  privacy,  insulting  or  harassing  on  the basis of gender, racially or ethnically objectionable, or promoting enmity between different groups on the grounds of religion or caste with the intent to incite violence, or harmful to child.

- ii. The  Intermediary  Rules,  2021  cast  due  diligence  obligations  on  the  intermediaries, including  social  media  intermediaries.  Such  due  diligence  obligations  includes  that  the intermediary shall make reasonable efforts by itself to cause its users not to host, display, upload, modify, publish, transmit, store, update or share, among others, any information which is harmful to child or violates any law. Intermediaries are also required to remove information, violative of any law for the time being in force, as and when brought to their knowledge either through a Court order or through a notice by Appropriate Government or its Authorised Agency.
- iii. The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023 has been enacted which expressly provides  safeguards  for  children  by  requiring  the  Data  Fiduciary  to  obtain  verifiable parental consent before processing any personal data of a child. The Act also prohibits Data Fiduciary  from  tracking  or  behavioural  monitoring  of  children  or  targeted  advertising directed at children.
- iv. MeitY  has  launched  the  Information  Security  Education  and  Awareness  Programme, which focuses on safe and trusted use of cyberspace, online safety, and cyber hygiene.
2. National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has undertaken following research studies/ issued guidelines, including:
- i. 'Effects  (Physical,  Behavioral  and  Psycho -Social)  of  using  Mobile  Phones  and  other devices with internet accessibility by children'. The findings of the said research study were  shared  with  concerned  Ministries  including  MeitY  and  MWCD  and  the  State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCRs). The study report is available at:

https://ncpcr.gov.in/uploads/165650458362bc410794e02\_effect1.PDF

- ii. NCPCR has included a section on 'Cyber Safety' as part of the NCPCR's Manual on 'Safety  and  Security  of  Children  in  Schools'  in  the  year  2021  which  (Manual)  was published  in  the  year  2017-18.  The  said  Manual  was  also  shared  with  Ministry  of Education, CBSE and other concerned stakeholders for further dissemination.
- iii. 'Being  Safe  Online' -  Guidelines  and  standard  content  for  raising  awareness  among children,  parents,  educators  and  general  public  were  issued  in  the  year  2017.  The Commission organized sensitization-cum-awareness generation workshops from time to time for concerned stakeholders on the said issue. The guidelines are available at:

https://ncpcr.gov.in/public/uploads/16613370496305fdd946c31\_being-safe-online.pdf

- iv. The Commission also prepared Guidelines for prevention of bullying and cyber bulling in schools and conducted 25 Districts level programmes on the said topic in the year 202425. The guidelines are available at:

https://ncpcr.gov.in/uploads/1714382687662f675fe278a\_preventing-bullying-andcyberbullying-guidelines-for-schools-2024.pdf

- v. The commission has developed IEC materials on cyber safety which is available on digital platforms viz. YouTube.
- vi. Recommendation to ad-hoc Committee by NCPCRRajya Sabha constituted an ad-hoc Committee to look into the matter pertaining to the "Alarming issue of pornography on social media and its effect on children and society as a whole". The Commission, after conducting due inquiry into the matter of spreading of porn sites on the internet/web pages which also led to getting information about the related risks to children like online stalking, harassment, grooming etc., submitted its suggestions to the ad-hoc Committee.
- vii. Meeting on Minors Committing Offences Due to Pornographic Content : A meeting to address the "Growing issue of criminal offenses committed by minors, allegedly influenced by  exposure  to  pornographic  material",  was  held  at  NCPCR  office  on  05.08.2024. Representatives from Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center (14C) of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Ministry of Law & Justice (Legislative Department), Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) participated.
- viii. Meeting with Social Media Platforms on Child Rights: A meeting was convened at the NCPCR office on 13.08.2024 with representatives from social media platforms, including META, Google, YouTube, Snapchat, Sharechat, Reddit, Bumble etc. to deliberate upon various aspects concerned with Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).
3. The Ministry of Education (MoE) introduced the PRAGYATA Guidelines on July 14, 2020, which  aim  to  ensure  the  safety  and  academic  welfare  of  students  by  recommending  ageappropriate  screen  time  limits.  The  guidelines  also  emphasize  the  importance  of  parental involvement in monitoring children's physical and mental well-being, promoting open communication about internet use, and balancing online activities with offline play and physical exercise.
4. The  Central  Board  of  Secondary  Education  (CBSE)  has  undertaken  several  proactive initiatives  to  address  the  physical,  mental,  academic,  and  social  impacts  of  excessive  digital engagement, especially in the  post-pandemic era. These  include the implementation of PRAGYATA Guidelines to ensure structured and safe digital learning while minimizing screen time, and the publication of a comprehensive Cyber Safety Handbook to promote healthy online habits among  students. CBSE  has  also  conducted  regular teacher training programs  in collaboration with Centre for Development of Advanced Computing ( CDAC), focusing on cyber wellness and balanced screen engagement. To further raise awareness, schools are encouraged to observe  Cyber  Jagrookta  Diwas  and  establish  Cyber  Clubs  that  engage  students  in  reflective

activities promoting mindful technology use. Additionally, Digital Etiquette Guidelines have been introduced  to  ensure  appropriate  online  behavior,  and  there  is  a  strong  emphasis  on  students' mental well-being through activities that foster social interaction and physical activity.

5. The  National  Council  of  Educational  Research  and  Training  (NCERT)  has  released  a handbook on 'Safe online learning in times of COVID -19'. The handbook is available at

https://ncert.nic.in/pdf/announcement/Safetolearn\_English.pdf

6. The School Health & Wellness Programme (SHWP), a joint initiative of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW) and Ministry of Education help to foster growth, development and educational achievement of school going children by promoting their health and wellbeing. Two  teachers  from  each  school  identified  and  trained  as  'Health  and  Wellness  Ambassadors (HWAs)' transact age appropriate, culturally sensitive activity-based classroom sessions for one hour per  week  to  promote  joyful  learning.  Out  of  the  select  11  themes,  Safe  Use  of  Internet. Gadgets and Media is one of the important themes which has been incorporated with the objective of developing the knowledge and skills of students to use media and Internet effectively and safely.

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