Newspaper Summary 240226

 

SOCIAL MEDIA CURBS: WILL THEY HELP KIDS?

BY NANDITA VENKATESAN & RUPANJAL CHAUHAN

India has joined the growing list of countries weighing restrictions on children’s access to social media. Speaking on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit last week, information technology minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the government is discussing age-based restrictions on social-media platforms. The remarks follow closely after the Economic Survey 2025-26 flagged the need to address “digital addiction” among the young.

At the state level, Goa, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala are also examining similar curbs. The push reflects rising concerns over online safety risks and mental-health challenges among children. Yet serious questions remain over whether such measures would deliver the intended results. Enforcement could prove difficult given how easily age verification can be bypassed on shared devices. Restrictions could also drive minors towards smaller, less regulated platforms, while limiting access to learning resources.

GLOBAL PUSH

Australia became the first country in December 2025 to ban adolescents under 16 years from using certain social media platforms, including TikTok, YouTube, and Meta-owned Instagram and Facebook, setting a global precedent. Since then, more countries across Europe and Southeast Asia such as Indonesia and Malaysia have announced plans to tighten rules. While France (under 15) and the UK (under 16) have gone farthest with one chamber of their Parliament voting in favour of the ban, others are toying with the idea. The proposed curbs fall into the following buckets: an outright ban for minors or a requirement for certain ages to obtain parental consent before opening an account.

INDIA’S CASE

India is the biggest market for WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube. YouTube has 500 million users in India, according to DataReportal, a platform that tracks global digital behaviour, which amounts to over a third (35.5%) of India’s population. Instagram counts over 480 million users in India, thereby used by over 34% of India’s population, followed by Facebook (403 million), Snapchat (213 million), and Reddit (30.8 million).

Some platforms have introduced child-friendly measures. Instagram, in 2025, rolled out safety features for users under 16 years such as default private accounts, restrictions on messaging and tagging among others. Given the centrality of India to the platforms’ growth strategies, experts argue that the answer lies not in shutting children out but in compelling technology companies to fundamentally rework their platform design and content moderation that make their platforms addictive. “The burden of proof has to be on these companies to show what they are doing differently and what they are doing better,” Isha Suri, independent researcher and a fellow at European AI & Society Fund, said.

A sticking point in the debate is what the law will define as ‘social media’ and which social networks should be covered or proscribed. The Australian ban, for instance, does not include messaging services such as WhatsApp and Telegram and generative AI apps. Experts said nuances of each platform need to be examined, even while opining that there is a risk of pushing behaviour underground. “By using escalatory bans to control access to platforms, people could be pushed towards smaller, less regulated services that are even more unsafe and far less moderated than the larger platforms,” said Prateek Waghre, head of programmes at Tech Global Institute.

A NUANCED DEBATE

Research has shown that excess social media usage among children has a directional link to problems of sleep disruption, reduced attention spans, and body image issues. However, enforcement can be a challenge in India’s context. A recent survey of 1,277 Indian teenagers by non-profit Rati Foundation found many teens used shared devices. Many accounts are created with the help of family members or friends and are not tied to personal email addresses, which undermines the assumption of individual account ownership on which most age-verification mechanisms rely.

Moreover, India lacks specific data and research, causing a data gap in this segment. Large scale surveys on social media that reflect the reality of Indian households is needed, experts said. “Internet use in India is gendered, with females facing more restricted access,” Suri pointed out. The government will need to be careful to not limit access to important tools such as menstrual health tracking apps. “Requiring parental consent would be a challenge in this case, given that menstrual health remains a taboo subject,” she added.

Additionally, social media also has an “emancipatory factor”, experts pointed out. A systematic review of studies on this topic across various countries by researchers at Manipal Academy of Higher Education found that while social media usage “can be a significant source of distraction”, they also have a positive impact on language development and communication skills among young adults. The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) in December 2025 noted that social media has become “a lifeline providing access to learning, connection, play, and self-expression”.

THE WAY FORWARD

Suri said young people ought to be at the centre of this decision-making process. “Age-appropriate consent mechanisms must be co-designed with the community—children, teachers, counsellors, civil society, and the government,” she said. “The autonomy and agency of children also needs to be taken into account.”

India, France offer clarity on double tax avoidance treaty

India and France decided to amend DTAC during president Macron’s visit last week.

BY ANUBHAV MUKHERJEE & GIREESH CHANDRA PRASAD

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), on Monday announced that India and France have signed a protocol to amend the Double Taxation Avoidance Convention (DTAC), which was originally signed back in September 1992, in an effort to boost tax certainty in the economy. CBDT has announced that during French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent visit to India, both nations agreed to amend the double tax avoidance treaty, which provides full taxation rights to capital gains from the sale of company shares.

“The Amending Protocol will provide greater tax certainty to the taxpayers and boost flow of investment, technology and personnel between India and France, and thereby strengthen the economic relationship between the two countries,” said CBDT in its statement. The DTAC Amending Protocol will also remove the Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) clause, which exists in DTAC, in turn, bringing rest to issues relating to the same.

The changes are also implemented in the taxes on the income from dividends. The amendment replaces the earlier single tax rate of 10% with split tax rates. The authorities have now imposed a split rate of 5% for those holdings which are at least 10% of the capital, and another split rate of 15% tax for all other cases of holdings. “It also modifies the definition of ‘Fees for Technical Services’ by aligning it with the definition in India US Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, and expands the scope of Permanent Establishment by adding Service PE,” said CBDT in its announcement.

The intent of amending DTAC seems to serve the twin purpose of addressing ambiguity in provision of treaty benefits as well as equitable distribution of taxation rights, said Abheet Sachdeva, Partner-M&A Tax, Nangia Global, a professional services firm. He said dividends emanating from India are subject to 10% tax deducted at source (TDS), and this outflow could be reduced with the MFN clause. The Supreme Court of India recently ruled that for application of MFN under a tax treaty, a separate specific notification should be issued by the Indian government, Sachdeva added.

Coffee packs must prominently disclose chicory level from July

BY PRIYANKA SHARMA

How much chicory does your favourite coffee have? Come July and you will be able to answer that question readily, as coffee powder packs will need to prominently display that figure from that month. India’s apex food regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), wants to ensure that customers are aware of the volume of chicory in their preferred brew. The mandate aims to ensure that the buyer does not mistake blended coffee for 100% coffee.

As per the mandate, font sizes of these declarations that need to appear on packs starting 1 July must be proportionate to the dimensions of the brands’ logos. Chicory is a coffee additive that makes the brew darker and gives it an earthy taste. It is caffeine-free and significantly less expensive than high-quality coffee. Most coffee brands in India’s $2 billion coffee market contain 30% to 35% chicory.

FSSAI took the decision at its 48th meeting in September where it approved the final notification of the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Amendment Regulations, 2025. While existing regulations allow up to 49% chicory in coffee, the labelling was often hidden on the back of the packaging. To improve transparency, the new amendment mandates that these ratios be moved to the "front of the pack". Pure coffee remains exempt from these requirements.

The domestic coffee market is dominated by Nestlé India‘s Nescafé brand, followed by Hindustan Unilever, known for its Bru range. Other significant players include Tata Coffee, ITC’s Sunbean brand, and Continental Coffee. “Our products currently declare the chicory content clearly and transparently,” a Nestlé spokesperson said in an emailed response, noting the company remains committed to complying with any regulatory changes. A Hindustan Unilever spokesperson stated their products are fully compliant with existing FSSAI regulations and they will update declarations if revised regulations come into effect.

Hillhouse Investment acquires minority stake in Quest Global

BY PRIYAMVADA C.

Hillhouse Investment has acquired a minority stake in Quest Global, an engineering services company in Singapore, in a mix of primary and secondary share purchases, the companies said in a statement on Monday. The companies did not disclose the financial details of the transaction.

“Their investment reinforces the strength of our differentiated value proposition, financial and operating discipline, and long-term growth strategy,” said Ajit Prabhu, co-founder and chief executive officer of Quest Global. “We look forward to partnering with Hillhouse as we further invest in advanced engineering capabilities that will help our clients”.

Backed by the Carlyle Group, Quest Global will use the additional capital to achieve its strategic priorities. The investment will be made through funds managed and advised by Hillhouse Investment Management. Quest has also been backed by private equity firms including Advent International, Bain Capital, ChrysCapital, True North and GIC.

“The company’s focus on mission-critical programmes, long-term customer relationships and disciplined execution has enabled it to scale sustainably across high-growth sectors such as aerospace, automotive, energy and semiconductors,” Sean Carney, partner and co-head of global buyout at Hillhouse Investment, said in the statement,. “Quest Global is well positioned to benefit from increasing global demand for advanced engineering and technology-led transformation”.

Founded in 1997 by Prabhu and Aravind Melligeri, Quest operates in more than 18 countries including India, with over 93 global delivery centres. It operates in sectors such as aerospace and defence, automotive, energy, hi-tech, med-tech and healthcare, rail and semiconductor industries.

Singapore-based global alternative investment manager Hillhouse has more than two decades of expertise and a range of investment strategies that span public equities, private equity, private credit and real assets. Its private equity portfolio spans 30 countries and manages assets on behalf of institutional clients such as university endowments, foundations, family offices and other long-term institutional investors based in the US, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

Jefferies served as the exclusive financial adviser to Quest Global on the transaction.

Jio set to disrupt eyewear with low-priced AI glasses

Jio is looking to replicate its mobile data tariff strategy in smart eyewear, betting on aggressive pricing and scale.

BY JATIN GROVER

IPO-bound Jio Platforms is set to disrupt India’s eyewear market with the commercial launch of its smart glasses, enabling users to enjoy music, make calls, and capture photos—marking an aggressive foray into the country’s fastest-growing wearables segment. The telecom and digital arm of billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) is looking to replicate its mobile data tariff strategy in smart eyewear—betting on aggressive pricing and scale to bring artificial intelligence (AI)-powered glasses to a wider audience, analysts and industry executives in the know said.

JioFrames AI smart glasses, unveiled last year at RIL’s annual general meeting, are expected to hit the market in the next two to three months, an industry executive said, adding that prices are likely to be significantly lower than the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses that are available in the market. Analysts expect Jio Platforms to price its smart glasses below ₹10,000, roughly a third of the starting price of the Gen 1 variant offered by market leader Ray-Ban Meta, which sells at around ₹30,000.

Smart glasses combine traditional eyewear with built-in speakers, microphones, and AI features, allowing users to listen to music, take calls, capture photos and access digital assistance without pulling out a phone. As per International Data Corporation (IDC) estimates, smart glasses have now become the fastest-growing category in the wearables market in India. In 2025, the shipments of smart glasses to retail stores and dealers grew 10 times from a year earlier to over 200,000 units in India. Market research firm Counterpoint Research also said that smart glasses are in the “hyper-growth” phase, noting that India's shipments rose more than 11x in 2025 off a smaller base, which signals a market that’s waking up fast.

“With the success of Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses and Lenskart’s audio-only smart glasses, the category is already witnessing healthy growth. We expect Jio to enter the market at an estimated price below ₹10,000, and the same could unlock exponential growth,” an industry executive said. Lenskart already has audio-only smart glass Phonic priced at about ₹5,000, and is gearing to launch B—its new smart glasses by March. Similarly, at the recently concluded AI Summit in New Delhi, Sarvam showcased its Kaze smart glasses, which it expects to launch in May.

India’s smart eyewear market size reached $115.7 million in 2025 and is expected to swell to about $1.24 billion by 2034, according to market research firm IMARC Group. In December last year, Meta launched its Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2) AI glasses in India at a starting price of ₹39,900. Similarly, Jio is looking to launch two variants—audio-only and audio with camera including other features. The smart glass uses the company’s in-house Reality OS (operating system) and will support various Indian languages.

Why hit movies don’t guarantee brand traction for actors anymore

Experts said strong storytelling, nostalgia or a powerful subject can pull crowds, but then, attention shifts elsewhere.

BY LATA JHA

Despite the unexpected box office success of some small and mid-budget films, their lead stars are yet to gain social media visibility or see traction from brands. Actors who have featured in controversial but successful films such as The Kashmir Files and The Kerala Story, or those like Sunny Deol making a comeback via hits like Gadar 2, have found that box office performance alone is neither a sufficient nor a decisive criterion for brand association.

Experts emphasize that while a powerful subject can pull crowds into theatres, once the curtains fall, attention quickly shifts elsewhere. The buzz belongs to the moment, not necessarily to the actors behind it. “Many films today are subject-led hits rather than star-led hits… Endorsement value depends on whether a star can carry attention beyond a release window and stay visible in everyday culture,” said Gaurav Arora, co-founder of digital marketing agency Social Panga.

The Off-Screen Persona

What matters to brands is how clearly an individual’s off-screen personality is understood and whether their public image aligns with the brand’s values and target audience. Prof. Nitika Sharma, assistant professor of marketing at the International Management Institute, pointed out that brands seek an actively cultivated off-screen identity.

According to experts, if an actor’s social presence is limited to movie posters and promotional posts, the audience doesn’t emotionally invest in them as individuals. Avishek Mukherjee, creative director at BC Web Wise, noted that brands today look beyond opening weekends to assess whether an actor can stay relevant in the long run. Unless an actor carries a strong, recognizable personal narrative, a single successful film rarely becomes a decisive factor for brand deals.

The Social Media Divide

Social media has amplified the divide between box office success and brand appeal. Some box office audiences simply do not overlap with advertiser target groups, meaning a film's success is real but not always aligned with brand priorities.

While a surprise hit can create a strong recency spike that some brands might ride for measurable attention, these short-term spikes are quite different from long-term brand building. As the industry shifts, the burden remains on actors to remain consistently visible and relevant beyond their time on the silver screen.

CAN RETURNING TECH MINDS FUEL INDIA’S RISE?

The growing ambiguity around H-1B visas is driving a surge in interest in job opportunities back home.

BY MASTUFA AHMED

Selva S. spent 17 years in the US semiconductor industry before returning to India through an internal transfer. Although his H-1B visa remains valid until December 2027, he felt that the growing uncertainty around long-term work authorization made the trade-off of earning less money in India worthwhile. His decision reflects a broader rethink among specialized tech hands who once viewed a Silicon Valley job as the ultimate dream.

CHANGE IN THE AIR

A proposed $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas has made it commercially unviable for many American companies to hire from India. Rating agency Crisil estimates this change could add $150–$550 million in annual costs for top Indian IT companies, while profits could shrink by 1.5% per H-1B worker. Additionally, clients are beginning to reprice contracts based on AI-driven productivity gains, as automated workflow tools replace core outsourcing tasks.

Experts are seeing nearly a five-fold increase in US-based talent actively exploring opportunities across India. Their globally trained expertise is considered invaluable for scaling businesses and building robust organizations. However, compensation remains a challenge, with professionals typically facing salary adjustments of 25–50%. Indian salaries generally range from one-third to two-thirds of US earnings, and returnees are advised to focus on the cost of living rather than direct currency conversion.

The shift is also visible in education, as Indian student arrivals in the US plunged 44.5% in August 2025, the steepest drop since the pandemic. Sudhanshu Kaushik, founder of the North American Association of Indian Students, notes that the "American dream" is now substantially more difficult, causing students to rethink their choices.

EMERGING FAULTLINES

Returnees with advanced AI and product experience have an edge because of a significant skills gap in India’s talent pool. While India produces over 1.5 million engineering graduates annually, industry body Nasscom and staffing firm TeamLease estimate only half are employable in core tech roles. Curricula often lag behind, failing to reflect modern fields like gen AI, cybersecurity, or cloud architecture.

Furthermore, India’s innovation ecosystem still lacks depth in deep-tech test-beds and early-stage capital. While more than 1,800 global capability centres (GCC) operate in India, experts suggest only 30% to 40% of their activity is truly innovation-led. Prominent tech investor Mohandas Pai argues that the primary issue is a lack of capital rather than a lack of talent.

SWADESHI TECH PUSH

This talent shift is occurring as India sharpens its self-reliance narrative. Recognized startups have jumped from about 50,000 in 2020 to more than 200,000 today, making India one of the world's top three hubs. While funding has cooled from its 2021 peak, deep-tech is leading a rebound, with roughly 3,600 startups raising $1.06 billion through July 2025.

The government’s second ₹10,000 crore Startup Fund tranche will focus entirely on deep-tech, and industry players have pledged $1 billion for AI and semiconductor ventures. Founders now view US H-1B tightening as a signal for a structural shift, allowing India to build at home what it once exported.

PAIN POINTS

Infrastructure remains a major pressure point, as India’s cloud, chip, and AI compute backbone is not yet at the required scale. The number of GCCs in India is expected to grow 30% over the next five years, with major names like HSBC, Morgan Stanley, and Biocon setting up engineering and data analytics processes.

The influx of experienced professionals is driving the government to accelerate development, such as the ₹4,500 crore cleared to upgrade the semiconductor fab in Mohali. Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw projects chip parity with the US and China by 2032, with new units starting production in early 2026.

For returnees like Selva, the opportunity to build within this evolving ecosystem makes the trade-offs clear. The real test for India will be whether it can turn this returning talent into a sustained competitive advantage that shapes the next decade of its tech story.

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MINT SHORT STORY

• What: Indian engineers’ dreams of working in the US are in disarray due to policy changes, leading many to return home.
• Why: A $100,000 H-1B fee and AI-driven automation are making traditional US hiring commercially unviable.
• So: Talent is shifting to India's startup ecosystem, which has grown to over 200,000 recognized firms.

A 100-year-old philosopher’s secret to lasting health

BY KIM HYUNG SEOK

I was born with a frail constitution. My family didn’t believe I would ever live a normal, healthy life. My mother used to say in my presence, ‘I would be happy if you make it to twenty’. But I fought the illnesses and won. From the age of fourteen, I began to hope I might not die young after all. By the time I finished middle and high school, I was confident that with effort, I could live and work in good health. Compared to others my age now, I’m arguably doing better than most.

I’m deeply grateful that I’ve never been hospitalised, nor have I ever undergone surgery. I’ve rarely had to put my work on hold due to illness. For this, I’m beyond grateful. At thirty, I grew confident in my ability to work in good health. After fifty, I felt I could maintain my health as well as anyone else. And by seventy, I was considered healthier than my peers.

There’s no special secret to it. I simply took care of myself as though it were my duty. I needed to stay healthy in order to fulfill my work. Those born with physical vulnerabilities often have one hidden advantage: they learn early not to overexert themselves. Although I’ve accomplished a great deal, I always took on responsibilities slightly below my maximum capacity. If I could manage 100, I only committed to 90. That way, I’d often end up doing 120. Commit to 120, and you’ll likely fall short of 100.

These days, we’re bombarded with health advice from all sources. Chief among them is exercise. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to enjoy exercise until I turned fifty as I was simply too busy. I never even considered fishing, golf or hiking, all of which my friends enjoyed, because I couldn’t spare the time.

After fifty, I began playing soccer with university friends. It’s a rather rough sport, but I’d spent my youth in Pyongyang playing soccer, so I enjoyed it for several years. Eventually, I hit my physical limits and switched to tennis at my children’s suggestion. But tennis requires coordinating schedules with a tennis partner, so I eventually took up swimming, where I never over-exerted myself. If I could swim 100 metres, I’d stop at 90. One of the reasons I chose swimming was skin care, so I paid close attention to that too. As long as there’s a pool nearby, I’d like to keep swimming for a few more years.

As one grows older, walking becomes the best exercise. But rather than walking for health’s sake or to exercise, I prefer to venture out to the mountain path to enjoy its beauty. Once walking becomes an everyday habit, it’s so enjoyable you hardly notice you’re doing it.

Still, the body inevitably ages. A friend who was a few years ahead of me once said, ‘In my seventies, I aged every year. In my eighties, I could feel myself aging every month. And after ninety, I feel a little older every day’. Aging is unavoidable. But from my sixties onwards, I’ve found that a peaceful heart and a healthy mind improves physical stamina, too. Though the body may age, the decline of emotional intelligence doesn’t come as quickly.

People often say, ‘Though my body has aged, I feel just the same as before’. As we age, we must pay attention to staying young of mind and maintaining mental wellbeing. The old saying goes, ‘Sound body, sound mind,’ but in old age, it’s perhaps the other way around: ‘Sound mind, sound body’.

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MINT INSIGHT

• Perspective: Those with physical vulnerabilities often learn early not to overexert themselves.
• The 90% Rule: Take on responsibilities slightly below maximum capacity to achieve more in the long run.
• Mental Link: From the sixties onwards, a peaceful heart is seen as a key driver of physical stamina.