The Maharashtra government has appointed an expert task force to study the growing problem of digital addiction among children and recommend corrective measures, Minister Ashish Shelar informed the legislative council on Wednesday.
The panel is expected to submit its report before the next session of the legislature.
The announcement came after legislative council members Niranjan Davkhare and Sanjay Kenekar raised a calling attention motion flagging the alarming rise in digital and gaming addiction among minors.
Members of Legislative Council (MLCs) Pravin Darekar, Chitra Wagh, Bhai Jagtap, and Uma Khapre also participated in the discussion.
Responding to the debate, Shelar said written instructions were issued on February 2 to Principal Secretary (IT) Virendra Singh to constitute the task force. He also announced that a joint committee comprising members from both Houses of the state legislature would be formed to deliberate further on the issue.
Maharashtra Budget Session 2026: What will the task force examine
Highlighting the gravity of the issue, the minister said Maharashtra has nearly four crore children below the age of 18, of whom around three crore are under 15.
“Their mental and physical well-being is a matter of serious public concern,” he said, adding that the government is treating the matter with urgency.
The multi-disciplinary task force will include educationists, psychiatrists, child counsellors, technology and management experts, doctors, legal experts, and senior government officials. It will study:
Child protection and digital safety
Impact on mental health
Responsible and balanced use of digital platforms
Effects on education and overall development
Cultural and family factors
Gender-based differences
Rural-urban disparities
Economic and productivity impact
Existing national and international child digital safety frameworks
Alarming findings on gaming addiction
Citing a study by the organisation “Responsible Netism,” Shelar said the global gaming industry is now valued at over USD 200 billion, with India ranking first in mobile game downloads. In Maharashtra, the domestic gaming industry is projected to reach USD 8.6 billion by 2027 due to rising smartphone penetration.
The study indicates a worrying rise in gaming disorder among children across both urban and rural Maharashtra. In five centres across the state, three out of every ten child cases are related to gaming addiction. Further, an Internet Dependency Scale survey conducted in schools shows that nearly 40 per cent of children exhibit moderate to severe gaming addiction.
Mental and physical health concerns
Experts have observed symptoms such as irritability, declining academic performance, social withdrawal, and “phantom vibration syndrome”, the sensation that a phone is ringing when it is not. Excessive gaming has also been linked to anxiety and depression.
Physical issues include “tech-neck,” eye strain, disrupted sleep cycles, and rising obesity due to reduced physical activity.
Maharashtra Budget Session 2026: Policy measures under consideration
The state government is considering a range of regulatory, educational and health interventions, including:
Regulatory measures
Mandatory age verification (e-KYC) for gaming platforms
Creation of an India-based gaming rating authority
Compulsory time limits and time-out features for minors
Regulation of gambling-like “loot boxes”
Statutory safety warnings in gaming advertisements
Educational measures
Inclusion of “Digital Hygiene” in the SCERT Maharashtra curriculum
Launch of ‘Screen-Free Saturday’ in government schools
Training teachers to detect early signs of digital addiction
Health measures
Setting up ‘Cyber Wellness Centres’ at medical colleges and district hospitals
Recognising gaming disorder as a mental health priority under state schemes
Shelar added that the government would also encourage competitions promoting games that enhance cognitive skills.
However, he clarified that legislative powers in this domain rest with the Central Government. If the task force suggests legal amendments, the recommendations will be forwarded to the Centre for consideration.
