The Bihar government is preparing a policy to control the ill effects of children’s increased screen time and exposure to social media platforms. Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary gave this information in the Assembly on Monday (February 23, 2026).

Samrat Chaudhary said, “The state government has sought a detailed report in this regard from the Bengaluru-based National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS). The issue of controlling the increase in screen time and online gaming among minors is a matter of serious concern. This is a multi-sectorial subject, in which many stakeholders are involved. After receiving the NIMHANS report, a meeting of all concerned parties will be called and a policy in this regard will be formulated.”

JDU MLA said- This is an invisible epidemic

This issue was raised by Janata Dal United (JDU) MLA Samriddh Verma during the question hour. He said, “This is an invisible epidemic, which is weakening the very roots of Bihar’s future. Attractive toys and books have now been replaced by scrolling on screens for long hours, which constantly keeps children’s attention. This has also been cited as a warning in the Economic Survey 2025-26 and has been recognized as a national health crisis.”

The MLA said, “Everyone knows how dopamine affects mental control and makes real life dull. Due to this, behavioral changes and lack of concentration are being seen in minors. Internet penetration is widespread in Bihar, but the level of digital literacy to deal with it is low. We are teaching AI to children, but where is the solution to protect against its toxicity?”

Urge to include ‘Digital Hygiene’ as a lesson

He urged the state government to include ‘Digital Hygiene’ as a compulsory subject in all government schools. Also, it was suggested to set up ‘Addiction Counseling Center’ in every district hospital and use Jeevika Didi network to make rural mothers aware about ‘screen time management’.

Information Technology Minister Shreyasi Singh said, “The department has sought a detailed report from NIMHANS, Bengaluru. After receiving the report, a policy will definitely be made on this subject.”

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