Technician checking air conditioning units with pressure gauges highlighting access to cooling and climate adaptation needs

Access to cooling matter of health for all, not privilege of rich, says top UNEP official

Access to cooling should be treated as a public health necessity and not a privilege of the wealthy, a top UNEP official has said, as India prepares for a hotter-than-normal summer. Rising heatwave days are expected to disproportionately affect vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, and outdoor workers, with serious implications for health, water supply, power demand, and essential services.

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Teenagers using smartphones together, highlighting excessive screen time and digital addiction concerns

Economic Survey terms Digital addiction as ‘growing public health concern’; backs Usage limits for teens

The Economic Survey 2025–26 has flagged digital addiction as a growing public health concern, particularly among teenagers, and supported usage limits on social media and online gaming. The survey emphasised the need for regulatory, community-based, and educational interventions to address the mental health impact of excessive digital use among youth.

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