Women & Child Welfare Current Affairs for UPSC (GS Paper II)

October 2026

• 08 Oct 2026

  Integrating Vision Care in Early Childhood Systems

  Public health experts are calling for the integration of vision screening into India's existing network of frontline health workers, immunization services, and school health programs. Although India has a robust primary and tertiary...

• 08 Oct 2026

  Regulating AI Companions for Child Safety

  The rapid rise of AI companions and chatbots has raised concerns regarding their psychological impact on young children. Prolonged interactions can lead to emotional dependence, behavioral manipulation, and exposure to inappropriate...

September 2026

• 29 Sep 2026

  Five Crore Schoolchildren Lack Basic Sanitation Access, Reports UN

  A joint report by international UN agencies highlighted that nearly five crore children in India still lack access to basic sanitation services in their schools, posing health and educational challenges. However, the report noted that...

• 28 Sep 2026

  Delays in Remuneration at SAKHI One Stop Centres Highlight Implementation Gaps

  Operational delays in disbursing salaries to staff at SAKHI One Stop Centres have highlighted administrative bottlenecks in the centrally sponsored scheme funded under the Nirbhaya Fund. SAKHI centres provide integrated support,...

• 24 Sep 2026

  Maharashtra passes Women Farmers Empowerment Bill

  Maharashtra's passage of the Women Farmers' Empowerment Bill marks a landmark shift by granting women independent recognition as farmers, irrespective of land ownership. This legislation addresses the historic structural bias where...

• 19 Sep 2026

  Dedicated Child Help Desks in Bihar Police Stations

  Bihar will establish dedicated Child Help Desks in every police station across the state starting October 2. The scheme aims to address the rising rate of crimes against children and provide a secure, sensitive environment for minors to...

• 16 Sep 2026

  European Union Proposes "KIDS Act" for Social Media

  The European Commission has announced plans to present the "KIDS Act," proposing a blanket ban on social media access for children under 13 years of age. For adolescents between 13 and 15 years, the framework introduces strictly curated...

• 16 Sep 2026

  Meta to Share Child Safety Reports Directly with Indian Agencies

  Meta has agreed to share information regarding Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) directly with Indian law enforcement agencies. Previously, Meta routed all CSAM reports to the U.S. based National Center for Missing & Exploited Children...

• 15 Sep 2026

  France proposes social media restrictions for children under 15

  France has introduced a legislative proposal to restrict access to social media platforms for children under 15 years of age. French leadership has also advocated for similar child online safety standards across the European Union to...

• 09 Sep 2026

  Government Drafts Perimenopausal Health Policy for Midlife Healthcare Integration

  Health authorities have introduced a dedicated perimenopausal health policy framework to address medical and psychological needs of women in their 40s and 50s. Perimenopause represents the transitional phase before menopause,...

• 06 Sep 2026

  India Co-Sponsors UN Resolution on Eliminating Child Marriage

  India has co-sponsored a resolution in the United Nations General Assembly proclaiming November 27 as the International Day for the Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriage. The initiative seeks to mobilize coordinated...

• 04 Sep 2026

  Supreme Court Scrutinizes Maternity and Parental Leave Provisions

  The Supreme Court reviewed provisions under the Social Security Code regarding paid maternity leave, with particular emphasis on equal protections for adoptive mothers and non-biological parents. The bench recommended that the Union...

• 03 Sep 2026

  NHRC Issues Notice on Digital Platform Intermediary Liability and Child Safety

  The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) took suo motu cognisance of reports highlighting that algorithmic advertisements on major social media platforms facilitated access to child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The development...

August 2026

• 27 Aug 2026

  Gaps in Childhood Cancer Care Data and Reach Highlighted

  While India has made significant advancements in medical technology to treat pediatric cancer, critical gaps persist in healthcare coverage and epidemiological data. Experts highlight that the exact incidence of childhood cancer remains...

• 26 Aug 2026

  Supreme Court clarifies police jurisdiction under PCPNDT Act

  The Supreme Court examined legal questions regarding police powers and judicial cognisance under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act. The court clarified procedures regarding FIR registration, police...

• 25 Aug 2026

  Centre Restricts Fixed-Dose Cold Medicines for Children Under Four

  The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare restricted the use of fixed-dose combination (FDC) medicines containing chlorpheniramine maleate and phenylephrine for children below four years of age. The move follows international...

• 23 Aug 2026

  Health Ministry Restricts Common Cold Combination Drugs for Young Children

  The Union Health Ministry has restricted the use of Fixed Dose Combination (FDC) drugs containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate and Phenylephrine Hydrochloride for children below four years of age. These ingredients, commonly found in...

• 18 Aug 2026

  Tamil Nadu to Formulate Dedicated Peri-Menopausal Care Policy

  The Tamil Nadu government has announced plans to draft a comprehensive Peri-Menopausal Care Policy to systematically address the physical and psychological health needs of women in the peri-menopausal age group. Alongside this, the...

July 2026

• 25 Jul 2026

  Alarm Over Rising Adolescent Pregnancies in Karnataka's Dharwad

  The All India Mahila Samsrutik Sanghatan (AIMSS) has submitted a memorandum to the district administration of Dharwad in Karnataka, highlighting a sharp increase in adolescent pregnancies. The organisation has demanded immediate...

• 23 Jul 2026

  France Proposes Europe's First Social Media Ban for Children

  France is taking steps to implement Europe's first comprehensive social media ban for children under the age of 15, citing rising concerns over mental health, online exploitation, and cyberbullying. The policy requires platforms to...

• 13 Jul 2026

  European Union experts recommend strict age-verification to protect minors online

  An expert panel commissioned by the European Commission has presented recommendations on protecting children from harmful social media content. Parallelly, Brussels announced that a dedicated age-check application is ready for rollout...

• 12 Jul 2026

  NFHS-6 Flags Sharp Rise in Private C-Section Rates

  The latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) data highlights a steep increase in Caesarean section (C-section) deliveries, with Jammu and Kashmir leading in private hospital rates. Medical experts attribute this trend to factors...

• 11 Jul 2026

  European Union Demands Meta Dismantle Addictive Social Media Features

  The European Commission has ordered Meta to dismantle specific user interface designs on Facebook and Instagram that it deems highly addictive. Regulators state that Meta failed to adequately assess the severe physical and mental health...

• 09 Jul 2026

  India Examines Australia's Proposed Social Media Age Limits

  During bilateral discussions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Australia's legislative efforts to implement a social media ban for minors, stating that it serves as an inspiration for global regulatory policy. This praise signals...

• 06 Jul 2026

  Government Issues Stern Notice to Meta Over Instagram Ads

  The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued a stern notice to Meta regarding child sexual abuse material (CSAM) appearing in Instagram advertisements. MeitY has ordered the platform to disable all ads and...