Why it is in the news
On 28 September 2026, a Bench of CJI Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana, hearing a PIL by the NGO Just Rights for Children Alliance, asked the Centre to issue statutory directions under the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 so that social media platforms make 18 years the minimum age for opening an account. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Court the government was “ready to do that”.
The exam angle
Issue: Whether India should enforce an 18+ bar on social media accounts through platform rules, or rely on consent, design standards and digital literacy to keep children safe online.