UPSC Mains 2025 GS Paper 2 Question Paper
Q. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has to address the challenges faced by children in the digital era. Examine the existing policies and suggest measures the Commission can initiate to tackle the issue.
Introduction:
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights must address emerging digital risks to children through robust policy enforcement and proactive regulatory innovation.
- Challenges Faced by Children in Digital Era
- Cyberbullying, online harassment → mental health issues
- Online sexual abuse (OCSEA), grooming
- Exposure to harmful content
- Data privacy violations, tracking, profiling
- Gaming addiction, financial exploitation
- Cross-border cybercrime, anonymity issues
- Existing Policy & Legal Framework
(a) Child Protection Laws
- POCSO Act, 2012 → covers online sexual abuse
- Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 → child protection framework
(b) Digital & Data Protection Laws
- Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023
- Parental consent mandatory
- Restricts tracking/targeted ads
- IT Rules (2021–23)
- Due diligence by intermediaries
- Removal of illegal content
(c) Institutional Mechanisms
- National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal
- CERT-In advisories
- Child helplines (1098), POCSO e-Box
(d) Regulatory Initiatives
- NCPCR push for age verification, content moderation
- KYC-based verification proposals
- Gaps in Existing Framework
- Weak age-verification mechanisms
- Fragmented reporting systems
- Low digital literacy among parents/teachers
- Poor enforcement across platforms
- Rapid tech evolution (AI, deepfakes) outpacing laws
- Measures NCPCR Can Initiate
(a) Regulatory & Policy Measures
- Develop Child Online Safety Code (safety-by-design, default privacy)
- Mandate privacy-preserving age assurance systems
- Enforce algorithm audits & child impact assessments
- Strengthen regulation of EdTech, gaming, social media
(b) Monitoring & Enforcement
- Create Digital Child Safety Cell within NCPCR
- One-stop “Report–Remove” platform integrating portals
- Periodic compliance audits of platforms
(c) Awareness & Capacity Building
- Nationwide digital literacy campaigns (schools, anganwadis)
- Training for parents, teachers, law enforcement
- Curriculum integration of cyber safety
(d) Technological Interventions
- AI-based detection of CSAM & harmful content
- Collaboration with global agencies (INTERPOL, tech firms)
- Tools for parental control & screen-time regulation
(e) Support Systems
- Strengthen mental health counselling services
- Child-friendly grievance redressal mechanisms
- 24×7 helplines for cyber abuse victims
- Best Practice / Global Learning
- Age-appropriate design codes (UK model)
- Increasing debate on age restrictions/social media regulation globally
- Overall Evaluation
- Existing policies → comprehensive but reactive
- Need shift to preventive, child-centric digital governance
- Way Forward
- Integrate law + technology + awareness
- Promote multi-stakeholder approach (Govt + NGOs + Tech firms)
- Continuous policy updation with emerging technologies
Conclusion:
By moving towards a proactive, technology-driven and child-centric regulatory approach, NCPCR can effectively safeguard children’s rights in the rapidly evolving digital ecosystem.
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