Washington, Jan 20: Widespread smartphone and social media use among children is driving a sharp rise in depression, anxiety and suicide, top American lawmakers and experts have said calling it a public health crisis that demands urgent government action.
Parents are increasingly alarmed by the amount of time children spend on screens and the nature of the content they consume, said Senator Ted Cruz, during a Senate Commerce Committee hearing titled “Plugged Out: Examining the Impact of Technology on America’s Youth.”
Cruz said children aged 8 to 12 now spend an average of 5.5 hours a day on screens, while teenagers spend more than 8.5 hours a day.
“More than half of a teenager’s waking hours are spent staring at a screen,” he said, calling the trend deeply troubling for parents and educators.
Psychologist Jean Twenge told lawmakers that the youth mental health crisis accelerated sharply after 2012, when smartphones became widespread and social media use shifted from optional to nearly mandatory for adolescents.
“Clinical-level depression doubled among adolescents and young adults between 2011 and 2019,” Twenge said.
She added that emergency room visits for self-harm doubled among girls aged 15 to 19 and quadrupled among girls aged 10 to 14 over the same period, while suicide rates in those age groups also doubled.
Twenge said the timing of the mental health decline did not align with economic factors but closely tracked the rise of smartphones and social media.
"This was the first time the majority of Americans owned smartphones,” she said, describing it as a pivotal moment for adolescent behavior.
Noting that social media platforms are deliberately designed to capture attention, using algorithms that keep young users scrolling, Ranking Member Maria Cantwell cited research showing that teenagers spend more than an hour a day on smartphones during school hours alone, often on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
Cantwell said studies have linked heavy social media use to higher rates of anxiety, depression and isolation among youth.
She also cited findings showing that roughly 40 percent of teens exhibit concerning patterns of media addiction, which she said doubles the risk of suicidal behavior.
Pediatrician Jenny Radesky said many digital products used by children were never designed with youth development in mind.
“Most digital products used by youth were designed by adults for adults and retrofitted for children after harms were recognized,” she said.
Radesky warned that engagement-driven designs often conflict with basic needs such as sleep, homework and family interaction.
She said frequent notifications, algorithmic feeds and compulsive design features make it difficult for children to disengage, contributing to stress and emotional dysregulation.
Several senators expressed concern that schools are compounding the problem by issuing internet-connected devices to students with limited safeguards.
Cruz said many parents find it harder to manage screen time when children are required to use laptops or tablets for schoolwork.
“There are not many parents who think it has become easier to help their kids when schools send them home with a tablet,” he said, adding that technology in classrooms should be evaluated for whether it improves learning or causes harm.
Experts also warned that sleep deprivation and reduced face-to-face interaction are worsening the crisis.
Twenge said teens now spend significantly less time with friends in person and are sleeping less than previous generations, both factors strongly linked to poor mental health outcomes.
Lawmakers from both parties said the problem is likely to intensify as artificial intelligence becomes more embedded in platforms used by children, increasing exposure to addictive and emotionally manipulative content. (IANS)
New Delhi, May 12: A massive protest organised by the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) broke out near the Shastri Bhawan on Tuesday, against the alleged paper leak in NEET-UG this year. The exam was held on May 3, following which allegations of paper leak surfaced, triggering investigations by the Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG) and central agencies. Earlier, the National Testing Agency (NTA) announced the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026, and said the examination will be re-conducted on dates to be notified separately. In a statement, the NTA said the decision was taken with the approval of the Government of India in the interest of maintaining transparency and preserving trust in the national examination system.
Srinagar, Feb 12: Jammu and Kashmir recorded over 15.48 lakh traffic violation cases in 2025, with authorities collecting more than Rs 34.17 crore as penalty under the Motor Vehicles Act, the Centre informed Parliament on Thursday. The information was shared in the Lok Sabha in response to a question raised by MP Janardan Singh Sigriwal. According to the official data, 15,48,525 challans were issued across the Union Territory in 2025, while the penalty amount recovered stood at Rs 34,17,36,740. The figures further show that in 2024, a total of 15,44,105 violations were registered with a penalty collection of around Rs 43.40 crore, while in 2023, 12,38,584 challans were issued and Rs 34.56 crore was collected. For the current year, till February 8, 2026, Jammu and Kashmir has recorded 1,63,531 traffic violation cases, with revenue collection of about Rs 2.11 crore. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways stated that stricter penalties under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 are aimed at ensuring better compliance and deterrence. It also said that traffic enforcement falls under the jurisdiction of States and Union Territories. The government has issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for electronic monitoring and is promoting technology-driven enforcement through Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras integrated with the VAHAN database. Awareness campaigns under the Sadak Suraksha Abhiyan are also being carried out to improve road safety.
New Delhi, Jan 25: The Dental Council of India (DCI) has directed all universities and dental colleges across the country to strictly ensure a minimum of 80 percent biometric attendance for Post Graduate students before allowing them to appear in examinations. The decision has been taken to curb absenteeism among postgraduate dental students. According to a circular issued by the Dental Council of India-a statutory body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, the decision has been taken after multiple complaints were received from dental colleges in Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh regarding non-attendance of PG students. "The matter was examined by the Grievance Sub-Committee of the DCI in its meeting held on November 24, 2025," the circular reads. It reads that after detailed discussion and deliberation, the committee recommended that all universities and dental colleges must ensure compliance with Regulation 18(a)(i) of the DCI Master of Dental Surgery Course Regulations, 2017, which mandates at least 80 per cent attendance. "The recommendation of the Grievance Sub-Committee has been approved by the Executive Committee of the Dental Council of India through circulation and has now been formally communicated for information and necessary action," the circular reads. As per the circular, all the universities and dental colleges have been directed to ensure minimum 80 per cent biometric attendance of all PG students before permitting them to appear in examinations. The order, issued by Deputy Secretary Dental Council of India Mukesh Kumar, is expected to be implemented with immediate effect across the country.
Srinagar, Jan 8: Contractual faculty members working in government degree colleges of Jammu and Kashmir Higher Education Department (HED) have expressed strong resentment over what they term as a glaring disparity in salaries, demanding revision of their pay in line with University Grants Commission (UGC) norms and regularisation of their services. The faculty, many of whom hold PhDs and are qualified through NET, SET and JRF, said they have been denied UGC-recommended pay scales despite discharging academic responsibilities equivalent to their regular counterparts. âHundreds of highly qualified scholars have been pushed into silent suffering. For years, we have been assured that our pay revision is under consideration, but nothing has materialised so far,â said Dr Ishfaq Gowhar, a contractual faculty member. Earlier, Director Colleges J&K had acknowledged the legitimacy of the facultyâs demand, stating that while the issue was genuine, its implementation involved significant financial implications due to the large number of contractual appointments. âWe are aware that they deserve salary enhancement, but the number of contractual faculty is huge and it has financial implications,â he earlier said. Dr Gowhar pointed out that contractual lecturers, who form the backbone of the higher education system, continue to work on a fixed monthly honorarium of Rs 28,000, which has remained unchanged for nearly a decade. âThe irony is that a Class IV employee with a Class 10 qualification draws a salary exceeding Rs 50,000, while doctorate-holding teachers engaged in teaching, mentoring and academic research are paid a fraction of that,â he said. He added that institutions such as SKUAST-K, University of Kashmir and Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) have implemented revised UGC pay scales, but the Higher Education Department has failed to extend similar treatment to its contractual faculty. Dr Gowhar said the demand for âequal work, equal payâ gets prominently featured in election campaigns, raising hopes among contractual teachers. âPromises were made and slogans echoed during elections, but once the process ended, our voices were reduced to silence. Even meeting officials now feels impossible,â he said. He said contractual faculty were not seeking privileges but dignity, fairness and recognition for their service. The faculty appealed to the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Education Minister to intervene and take concrete steps towards addressing their long-pending demands. âThis issue is not merely about salaries. It is about survival, justice and dignity in the classrooms of Jammu and Kashmir,â he said.
Srinagar, March 6: Around 17 candidates from Jammu and Kashmir have qualified the Civil Services Examination (CSE)-2025, the result for which was declared by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Friday. The commission recommended a total of 958 candidates for appointment to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and various central services. Anuj Agnihotri, an MBBS graduate, has topped the civil services examination 2025, while Rajeshwari Suve M and Akansh Dhull have got the second and third ranks respectively. According to the official list released by the UPSC the 17 candidates from J&K who have figured in the final merit list include Suvan Sharma (Rank 148), Sugandha Gupta (207), Towseef Ganie (Rank 254), Ritika (Rank 456), Sooyash Shivam (Rank 572), Muneeb Parrah (Rank 581), Ghulam Din (Rank 683), Dwarka Gaadhi (Rank 721), Akash (Rank 747), Koh E Safa (Rank 763), Yasaar (Rank 811), Abhishek (Rank 820), Pankaj (Rank 856), Mohammad Ajaz (Rank 869), Azhar (Rank 886), Sarfraz (Rank 936), and Irfan (Rank 957). The results were declared after conducting the written examination in August 2025 followed by the personality tests (interviews) conducted between December 2025 and February 2026. As per the result notification issue by the UPSC, a total of 958 candidates have been recommended for appointment against 1087 vacancies reported by the government for the examination cycle. These include 180 vacancies in the IAS, 55 in the IFS, 150 in the IPS, 507 in Central Services Group A and 195 in Group B services. Of the total recommended candidates, 317 are from the general category, 104 from the economically weaker sections, 306 from other backward classes, 158 from scheduled castes and 73 from scheduled tribes. A consolidated reserve list of 258 candidates has also been published in accordance with the rules. The claims of recommended candidates regarding reservation categories will be subject to verification by the concerned authorities. The UPSC has stated that the candidature of 348 recommended candidates has been kept provisional, while the result of the two candidates has been kept withheld. The CSE is conducted annually in three stages- preliminary, Mains and interview by the UPSC to select officers of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) among others. The civil services (preliminary) examination 2025 was conducted on May 25 of 2025. A total of 937876 candidates applied for this examination, out of which 5,76,793 actually appeared in the test. A total of 14,161 candidates qualified for appearance in the written (Main) examination which was held in August, 2025. Of these, 2736 candidates had qualified for the personality test (interview) of the examination. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the candidates who qualified the UPSC exam. "Congratulations to all those who have successfully cleared the Civil Services Examination, 2025. Their dedication, perseverance and hard work have led to this significant milestone. Wishing them the very best as they embark on a journey of serving the nation and fulfilling the aspirations of the people," PM Modi wrote on his official X handle. "To those who may not have secured the desired outcome in the Civil Services Examination, I understand that such moments can be difficult. However, this is only one step in a larger journey. Many opportunities lie ahead, both in future examinations and in the many avenues through which you can contribute to our nation. My best wishes for the road ahead," his post on X reads. UPSC chairman Ajay Kumar announced the declaration of the result and congratulated the candidates who qualified the exam. "Congrats to all successful candidates as you begin a career of service to the nation. For those who did not make it-the learning from this journey will guide you in the paths ahead," UPSC Chairman wrote in a post on X. Among the 17 candidates from J&K who qualified UPSC exam inlcude a visually impaired candidate Irfan Ahmad Lone, a resident of Manzpora in the Naidkhai area of Bandipora.
New Delhi, Sep 12: Loneliness among the elderly is emerging as a serious but often overlooked concern, doctors have warned. Older adults can feel isolated even while living with their families, and prolonged social disconnection can take a toll on both their mental and physical health, they say. According to Dr Harjit Singh Bhatti, a senior consultant of geriatric medicine at Sitaram Bhartia Hospital, loneliness is not simply about living alone but an emotional state in which a person feels disconnected, neglected or deprived of meaningful relationships. "An elderly person can live with their family and still feel lonely, while someone living alone may remain socially active and well connected. Loneliness, therefore, cannot be assessed simply by looking at whether a person lives alone or with others," said Dr Bhatti. Changing family structures, urbanisation, migration of younger people for education and employment and the growing prevalence of nuclear families have further complicated the problem, he said. Older adults who have lost a spouse, live alone, have disabilities or suffer from chronic illnesses can be particularly vulnerable, while retirement and children moving to other cities or countries may further reduce social interaction, Dr Bhatti said. Dr Avinash Chakrawarty, Professor of Geriatric Medicine at National Centre for Ageing (NCA), Delhi AIIMS, said loneliness should be viewed as a health issue rather than a consequence of ageing. Social connection is an important component of healthy ageing, and when it erodes, it can affect sleep, appetite, physical activity, mood and even treatment adherence in an elderly person, he said. Many seniors gradually withdraw from social activities because of mobility problems, hearing difficulties or a feeling that they are no longer needed, Dr Chakrawarty said. "This can create a cycle in which isolation leads to poorer mental and physical health, which in turn makes the person less willing or able to engage with others. "Families need to recognise subtle changes such as loss of interest in routine activities, reduced communication or spending most of the day alone. Regular conversations, shared meals, outings and involving seniors in family decisions can help restore a sense of belonging and purpose," Dr Chakrawarty said. Dr Anup Singh, Founder Head of the Department of Geriatric Medicine, IMS-BHU, and nodal officer/Chief of the upcoming National Centre of Ageing at BHU, said prolonged loneliness has been linked with several physical and cognitive health concerns. "Persistent stress associated with loneliness may contribute to sleep disturbances, high blood pressure and cardiovascular risk, while reduced physical and social activity can worsen existing chronic conditions," he said. "There is also growing evidence linking social isolation and loneliness with depression, anxiety and cognitive decline. In older adults, therefore, assessing social connectedness should be part of a broader health evaluation," he added. Doctors must ask about who the patient interacts with, how often they participate in activities and whether they feel supported, rather than limiting consultations to medicines and laboratory reports, Dr Singh said. The problem is not restricted to cities, doctors insist. While busy urban lifestyles and limited neighbourhood interaction can leave seniors isolated, migration of younger generations for employment can similarly leave older adults in rural areas without regular companionship, Dr Singh said. Technology can help bridge geographical distances through phone calls, video calls and social media, though, he stated. Dr Bhatti said tackling loneliness does not necessarily require major interventions. "Regular conversations, sharing meals, involving older family members in everyday activities and genuinely listening to them can go a long way. They need to feel that they continue to be an important part of the family," he said. Senior citizen clubs, community centres, volunteering opportunities, cultural programmes and intergenerational activities can also help older adults remain socially engaged. As India's elderly population continues to grow, doctors said addressing loneliness will become increasingly important to ensure that longer life also translates into healthier and more fulfilling ageing. (PTI)
Srinagar, Feb 5: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Thursday informed the Legislative Assembly that around 49276 cases of drug abuse were reported in Jammu and Kashmir since 2022. She further said that 16759 such patients have been registered in Kashmir and 32517 in Jammu respectively. The minister was speaking in response to a MLA Tanvir Sadiq, who told the House that he earlier introduced a bill on drug abuse, making it compulsory to teach the ill effects of drug addiction in schools. "I had withdrawn the bill on the assurance of the government," he said. The health minister however informed the House that the government would bring a bill on drug abuse during the ongoing session of the Legislative Assembly. "The bill has been prepared and will be introduced in the House during the ongoing session," she informed the House. The Minister said that the government is also in the process of finalising drug de-addiction rules. âWe have framed the drug de-addiction rules and have sent them to the Law Department for examination,â she said.
Srinagar, Jan 12: The Food Safety Department of Jammu and Kashmir has busted a module involved in the manufacture and sale of fake honey and desi ghee in Srinagar, which was being passed off as home-made products. Officials said a team of food safety officers conducted raids at multiple locations in the Barthana and Qamarwari areas of the Srinagar, during which the illegal manufacturing unit was detected. During the operation, the team recovered a large quantity of hydrogenated oil, which was allegedly being used to prepare a mixture sold as desi ghee at roadside outlets. Officials further said that sugar and other material used in the preparation of a mixture being sold as locally produced honey were also seized from the premises. The department has initiated further investigation to identify the supply chain and take action against those involved, under relevant provisions of the Food Safety Act.
