Karnataka’s Department of Health & Family Welfare, together with NIMHANS and other stakeholders, has drafted a policy to tackle excessive and unsafe digital technology use among students. With nearly one in four adolescents showing problematic internet use, the policy acknowledges the rising mental health concerns linked to excessive screen time, including anxiety, sleep issues, poor academic performance, and social isolation, along with increased exposure to cyber risks like cyberbullying, grooming, and online exploitation.
The policy aims to promote digital well-being, emotional resilience, and responsible technology use through a structured, school-based framework. It emphasizes prevention, early identification, and management by integrating digital literacy, mental health awareness, and cyber safety into schools. A multi-stakeholder approach involves schools, teachers, parents, students, and government systems.
Schools are directed to conduct teacher training programs on healthy technology use and maintain proper communication with parents. Digital wellness will be embedded in life skills and ICT education, covering social media literacy, cyber safety, mental health impacts, and ethical use of technology. Each school will set screen-time norms (≤1 hour per day recreational use), address cyber misconduct, provide counselling, and train teachers to identify behavioural or academic red flags with clear referral pathways to mental health services. School-level bodies will oversee implementation, awareness, and incident management, alongside regular sensitization programs for students, teachers, and parents.
The policy encourages physical activity, hobbies, and tech-free periods for balanced development, and includes mechanisms to track digital distress, handle cyber incidents, and access support services such as Tele-MANAS (14416). A Training of Trainers (ToT) model will equip teachers to understand technology addiction (5C model: Craving, Control, Compulsion, Coping, Consequences), identify early warning signs, and implement classroom and peer-led interventions. Parents are recognized as key stakeholders, encouraged to enforce screen-time rules, create device-free zones, promote offline family engagement, and model responsible digital behaviour, supported by guidance from schools.
The draft policy defines clear roles and responsibilities: students practice responsible digital use and seek help when needed; teachers integrate digital wellness and monitor well-being; parents supervise technology use; schools implement policies and support systems; and the government provides guidelines, funding, and oversight.
The policy aims to improve digital literacy, encourage responsible technology use, reduce technology addiction and related mental health issues, enable early detection of mental health concerns, and strengthen school-parent collaboration. It represents a proactive, scalable approach to fostering a safe, balanced, and resilient digital environment for students.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.
The Indian Armed Forces have recently rolled out two innovative partnership models to accelerate the development of indigenous defence platforms and components. These initiatives aim to simplify collaboration, cut costs, and shorten development timelines by reducing dependence on traditional Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs).
The first approach, the User–Academia–Industry Partnership, creates a triangular collaboration among operational users, research institutions, and private industry. This structure ensures that the armed forces’ requirements directly inform academic research and industrial design, fostering a cycle where practical needs drive innovation and production. By integrating academia, the model taps into advanced research, while industry provides the capacity to turn ideas into deployable systems.
The second framework, the Base Depot (User)–Industry Partnership, emphasizes direct collaboration between military depots and private manufacturers. Base depots, responsible for maintenance and logistics, serve as primary equipment users. This partnership enables rapid prototyping, repairs, and component upgrades without the bureaucratic delays often associated with DPSUs. It is particularly effective in meeting urgent operational needs and keeping equipment mission-ready.
Moving away from DPSUs has proven to be a pragmatic strategy. While DPSUs have historically been central to India’s defence production, they have faced criticism for inefficiencies, delays, and cost overruns. Leaner, more flexible partnerships allow the armed forces to achieve faster turnaround times and more cost-effective solutions. Additionally, these models encourage private sector participation, fostering competition and innovation within the defence ecosystem.
These initiatives represent a major step toward self-reliance in defence manufacturing. They align with the broader Atmanirbhar Bharat vision and strengthen India’s strategic autonomy by reducing reliance on foreign suppliers. Focusing on indigenous development enables the armed forces to create solutions tailored to their operational needs, enhancing both effectiveness and resilience.
If scaled successfully, these partnerships could transform India’s defence industrial landscape. They promise a future in which the armed forces, academia, and industry collaborate seamlessly to deliver cutting-edge technologies while building a strong domestic supply chain. This shift underscores India’s move toward modernisation and efficiency, equipping the country to address contemporary warfare challenges with home-grown solutions.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Indian Defence News.
Karachi is once again facing a severe water crisis after a major failure at the Dhabeji Pumping Station caused a critical supply line to rupture, highlighting the city’s vulnerable infrastructure. The incident resulted in the loss of millions of gallons of water and disrupted supplies across several key areas, according to The Express Tribune.
Officials reported that the disruption occurred late Sunday night when an unexpected power outage forced multiple pumps at the K-III Pump House and Phase-II system to shut down. This sudden stoppage caused severe pressure fluctuations in the pipeline network, ultimately leading to the bursting of the 72-inch main line.
Large amounts of water spilled into surrounding areas before authorities could control the situation. Emergency repair teams were immediately deployed, working continuously to restore the damaged infrastructure. Officials expressed serious concern over recurring power outages at the Dhabeji facility, warning that such interruptions pose a significant threat to Karachi’s already strained water supply system. They urged K-Electric to maintain a stable power supply to prevent the crisis from worsening.
The breakdown has affected several densely populated neighborhoods, including Korangi, Landhi, Malir, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, and parts of District Central, where residents are likely to face water shortages for 24 to 48 hours. Authorities have advised people to conserve water and prepare for delays, with a surge in tanker demand expected. According to sources in the Water Corporation, while repairs may be completed within a day, restoring full supply will take longer due to the need for gradual pressure stabilization. Partial service could resume by night if no additional issues arise, The Express Tribune reported.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
The Indian government has appointed senior IAS officer Vir Vikram Yadav as the new Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), while Chanchal Kumar takes the helm as Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B). The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved these key changes late last month, signaling a fresh push to address urgent challenges in aviation safety and the evolving media landscape.
Vir Vikram Yadav, a 1996-batch IAS officer from the Odisha cadre, replaces Faiz Ahmed Kidwai as DGCA chief, assuming the role with additional secretary rank. Coming from the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Yadav steps into a high-pressure job amid recent aviation woes—like IndiGo's chaotic flight cancellations last December and rising scrutiny on smaller airports and charter flights. Kidwai, also from the 1996 batch but Madhya Pradesh cadre, moves to the Department of Personnel and Training. This reshuffle aims to tighten safety nets and boost efficiency in an industry projected to handle 300 million passengers annually by 2030.
Chanchal Kumar, a 1992-batch Bihar cadre officer, succeeds Sanjay Jaju as I&B Secretary. Fresh off leading the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Kumar brings infrastructure savvy to a ministry wrestling with digital content rules and platform booms. Jaju swaps places, heading to DoNER.
Kumar's prior telecom coordination stint last year positions him well for tackling online media regs, much like global efforts to balance innovation and oversight. This broader bureaucratic reset, including tweaks at the National Testing Agency, underscores India's drive for agile governance amid economic growth. Aviation firms and media outlets will watch closely for policy shifts ahead.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Hindustan Times.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have threatened that any ships navigating the strategically important narrow strait could be targeted. This waterway is critical for global energy supplies, as nearly one‑fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes through it. The warning raises concerns about potential disruptions to international shipping and energy markets in the region.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
As thousands of U.S. troops and marines deploy to the Middle East, Iran accuses Washington of secretly planning a ground attack while publicly promoting ceasefire negotiations. Donald Trump has threatened to “destroy” Iran’s energy infrastructure, stated that he would “prefer to take the oil,” and suggested that U.S. forces could capture the country’s export hub on Kharg Island, all while claiming to be negotiating with a new “reasonable regime.” At the same time, Yemen’s Houthi forces have joined the conflict, raising the risk of further disruptions to the global economy.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
In 1998, tobacco companies in the United States were made responsible for the damage caused by the products they produced and sold through the Tobacco Settlement. Today, a similar question arises for Big Tech: it is not only about the content on their platforms but also whether these platforms were intentionally created to keep users addicted. Daniel Martin explores this issue with Rajesh Sreenivasan, Head of Technology, Media, and Telecommunications at Rajah and Tann Singapore.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
On “Destination Anywhere,” Melanie Oliveiro chats with Regina Lee, a travel and home influencer, about her journey through northern Xinjiang. From the shimmering turquoise waters of Sayram Lake to the lush rolling landscapes of Nalati Grasslands and the snow-capped peaks of the Tian Shan mountains, Regina recounts the region’s beauty and charm. She guides listeners through glacier valleys, picturesque villages, vibrant lakes, and lively bazaars, while also sharing practical tips on how to fully experience this remarkable frontier of China.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
This week, as the repercussions of the US-Israel conflict with Iran continue, Australians are feeling the pinch from a worsening fuel crisis. At the same time, the Liberal Party faces a critical moment as voters increasingly shift toward One Nation. In this edition of the Guardian’s Australian Politics podcast, political editor Tom McIlroy talks with Andrew Hastie, shadow minister for industry and sovereign capability, about Australia’s approach to the global fuel shock, the need for reindustrialisation, and his perspective on how the Liberal Party should respond to the rise of One Nation.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
