India Evaluates Mandatory 'Minor Mode' for Smartphones

NEW DELHI — The Union Government of India is considering a new regulatory framework that could require smartphone manufacturers to build a native Minor Mode into all devices sold in the country. The proposed policy aims to combat excessive screen time, digital addiction, and exposure to harmful online content among children.

Unlike downloadable parental control applications that children can easily delete or bypass, this proposed mode will function directly at the operating system level.

Key Features of the Proposed Framework

Under the guidelines being discussed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, mobile devices will offer built-in parental restrictions. Parents will be able to set daily screen time limits, restrict late-night device usage, and require secondary verification before a child can download new applications.

The system will also block access to unverified platforms, high-risk online games, and harmful short-video content during restricted hours.

At the same time, the policy ensures that essential functions remain active. Educational applications, white-listed learning portals, and emergency communication features, such as direct dialing to parents or emergency services, will remain accessible even when Minor Mode is turned on.

Protecting Children While Preserving Access

The government wants to create a safe digital environment for young users without cutting off access to digital learning tools. Experts point out that the main concern is not only the amount of time children spend on screens, but also the quality of the content they consume. Many school-age children spend long hours on short-video platforms, online gaming platforms, and artificial intelligence chat applications.

A standardized Minor Mode across both Android and iOS devices would give parents better tools to manage device usage while allowing children to benefit from educational technology.

Following Global Safety Standards

India is not the only country exploring stronger device-level safety rules for children. International regulations have heavily influenced the current discussion. Australia recently passed laws restricting social media accounts for minors under the age of sixteen. China has similarly introduced regulations requiring hardware manufacturers to embed built-in Minor Mode settings with daily usage limits.

The Indian government is also reviewing the responsibility of device manufacturers and application developers. Officials are studying whether companies should be legally accountable for incorporating safety-by-design features into consumer hardware.

Next Steps for Implementation

The policy remains in the consultative stage. Government officials are engaging with key stakeholders, including technology companies, mobile network operators, and child safety researchers.

If approved, the policy will apply across all major smartphone brands operating in the Indian market. The coming months will determine how handset manufacturers implement these device-level protections across their hardware lineups.

For more on regional initiatives addressing this issue, watch the report on Karnataka Proposes Child-Safe Devices to Protect Young Minds. This news coverage highlights how state authorities in India are exploring policy measures to curb screen addiction among young children.