Rising obesity, diabetes, mental health problems and digital addiction are emerging as major public health challenges in India, the Economic Survey 2025–26 has warned, even as the country records steady gains in maternal and child healthcare outcomes. The Survey flags lifestyle diseases and behavioural health risks as growing threats to long-term wellbeing and workforce productivity.
Presented in Parliament on January 29, ahead of the Union Budget 2026, the Economic Survey takes stock of India’s health trajectory, highlighting sharp declines in mortality indicators over the past three decades while cautioning that sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy diets and excessive screen time are increasingly undermining overall public health, particularly among children and young adults.
Have we improved in health parameters?
The Economic Survey documents substantial progress in India’s key health indicators over the past three decades, particularly in maternal and child healthcare. Since 1990, India has reduced its Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) by an impressive 86 per cent, far exceeding the global average reduction of 48 per cent.
Similarly, the Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR) has declined by 78 per cent, surpassing the global average decline of 61 per cent. Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) has also witnessed a sharp 70 per cent reduction between 1990 and 2023, compared to the global average reduction of 54 per cent.
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One of the most notable achievements highlighted in the Survey is the steady decline in Infant Mortality Rate (IMR). Over the past decade alone, IMR dropped by more than 37 per cent, falling from 40 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2013 to 25 in 2023. This improvement signals progress in nutrition interventions, maternal awareness, healthcare infrastructure and overall socio-economic conditions.
The Survey also emphasises the expanding role of digital technologies in strengthening healthcare delivery. Initiatives such as “the Hospital Management Information System, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), and e-Sanjeevani have enhanced citizens' access to digital health services, created digital employment opportunities, enabled evidence-based policymaking, and improved hospital management.”
What are the concerns for India?
Despite improvements in mortality indicators, the Economic Survey flags a worrying rise in lifestyle diseases and behavioural health challenges. Obesity has emerged as one of the most serious public health threats in the country. Driven by unhealthy dietary habits, sedentary lifestyles, urbanisation and the rapid penetration of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), obesity is now affecting people across age groups and socio-economic categories.
According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 2019–21, nearly 24 per cent of Indian women and 23 per cent of Indian men are overweight or obese. Even more concerning is the rising prevalence among children. Excess weight among children under five years of age increased from 2.1 per cent in 2015–16 to 3.4 per cent in 2019–21, indicating early onset of lifestyle-related risks.
The Survey notes that obesity significantly increases the likelihood of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disorders and hypertension. These conditions not only strain public healthcare infrastructure but also reduce workforce productivity and increase long-term treatment costs.
Ultra-processed foods play a major role in this trend. The Economic Survey highlights that India has become one of the fastest-growing markets for UPF sales globally, with consumption increasing by over 150 per cent between 2009 and 2023. These foods, high in sugar, salt and unhealthy fats, are displacing traditional diets and worsening overall nutrition quality.
Another growing concern highlighted in the Survey is digital addiction, particularly among children and adolescents. Excessive screen time has been linked to declining academic performance, reduced workplace productivity, disrupted sleep patterns and erosion of social interaction.
Closely linked with digital addiction is the deteriorating mental health of India’s youth. The Survey points out a high prevalence of social media addiction among individuals aged 15–24, with multiple Indian and global studies confirming the trend. Social media overuse is strongly associated with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and cyberbullying stress.
Other behavioural issues such as compulsive scrolling, gaming disorders and constant online comparison are leading to sleep deprivation, aggression, social withdrawal and depressive symptoms. Adolescents remain particularly vulnerable due to developmental sensitivity and peer influence.
What is the way ahead?
The Economic Survey outlines a comprehensive roadmap combining technology, policy reforms and community-based interventions to address emerging health challenges. One of the most significant steps has been the launch of Tele-MANAS (Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States) by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in October 2022.
Tele-MANAS operates a 24/7 toll-free mental health helpline (14416) across all states and Union Territories, connecting callers with trained mental health professionals at no cost. The Tele-MANAS mobile application, launched in 2024, has further expanded accessibility. Since its inception, the service has received over 32 lakh calls, demonstrating both rising mental health awareness and unmet service demand.
Specialised treatment facilities are also being strengthened. The SHUT (Service for Healthy Use of Technology) Clinic at NIMHANS, Bengaluru, provides targeted care for individuals experiencing compulsive technology use, with special focus on adolescents and young adults. It also conducts free online parental counselling sessions to promote healthier screen habits at home.
Regulatory interventions are gaining momentum as well. The Online Gaming (Regulation) Act, 2025, marks an important policy step to address digital addiction and protect youth from financial and psychological harm related to gaming platforms.
Data-driven governance is another key pillar highlighted in the Survey. The upcoming second National Mental Health Survey, led by NIMHANS and commissioned by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, is expected to provide updated prevalence estimates and actionable insights to guide policy planning.
To counter excessive digital dependence, the Survey suggests the creation of offline youth engagement hubs, especially in urban slums and rural areas. These centres would provide sports, skill development, cultural activities and safe community spaces as alternatives to screen-based entertainment.
Schools are identified as critical intervention points. The Survey recommends introducing a structured Digital Wellness Curriculum covering screen time literacy, cyber safety awareness and mental health education. Moderated online learning environments hosted by educational institutions are also proposed to ensure safer digital engagement.
The Economic Survey further highlights the role of AI-driven surveys and digital platforms such as UDISE+, AISHE and ABDM in mapping health patterns. Integration of artificial intelligence tools can help identify ‘health hotspots’, including obesity prevalence in urban slums or rising digital addiction in peri-urban school clusters.
Public-private partnerships are expected to strengthen frontline healthcare delivery using digital innovations such as mobile health applications, AI chatbots like ASHABot, and monitoring dashboards such as ASHA Kirana’s M-CAT and ASHA Digital Health.
The government has rolled out multiple awareness and behavioural change initiatives. These include POSHAN Abhiyaan and Poshan 2.0 for nutrition improvement, the Fit India Movement and Khelo India to promote physical activity, Eat Right India to encourage healthy food habits, and the nationwide campaign ‘Aaj Se Thoda Kam’ to reduce excessive consumption of unhealthy foods. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has also launched the ‘Stop Obesity & Fight Obesity’ awareness initiative.
The Survey also notes that the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued guidelines on safe internet use in schools and even school transport systems. The Ministry of Education’s ‘Pragyatah’ framework guides digital education planning with emphasis on screen time management. Additionally, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has issued advisory guidelines on screen time limits and online safety protocols.
It emphasises that “India's health sector require unwavering focus to unlock the nation's true potential, especially in addressing interconnected new emerging issues such as the double burden of CDs and NCDs, increasing digital addiction, concerning mental health issues, poor nutrition, and increasing obesity. A holistic approach including physical and mental health is essential to ensure a resilient future.”
This story is done in collaboration with First Check, which is the health journalism vertical of DataLEADS.