Read the following passage carefully:
(1) A recent survey conducted by an independent research firm sought to measure levels of happiness among youth aged 16–24 years in seven countries. The findings revealed some intriguing insights into what makes today’s youth happiest, as well as which factors influence their overall well-being. In India, an overwhelming majority of the youth reported feeling satisfied with their lives, with 87% rating their overall happiness as ‘high’ or ‘very high.’ Financial security was identified as the primary source of happiness for 66%, followed by family support (89%), having a purpose in life (50%), and work or studies (40%). Unfortunately, 65% reported feeling stress related to academic performance or workload, while 25% reported feeling lonely. These figures point to a need for increased mental health support among India’s youth.
(2) These surveys also revealed that family support is an important source of contentment for young people across countries. In Europe, 59% of respondents said that their families were a major source of happiness; in France this figure was 67%, and 63% in Germany. In North America, 64% rated family as an important factor for well-being in Canada, while 61% did so in the United States. Similarly, 89% of survey respondents in India named family support as a major contributor to their overall contentment level.
(3) It is clear that stress has a significant impact on the happiness of today’s youth. The findings suggest that young people need better resources to manage their mental health and well-being. This may include access to counselling services, mindfulness activities and support groups to help them cope with challenging circumstances. It is also important to provide financial support so as to reduce some of the economic pressures.
(4) In India, 65% of youth surveyed reported feeling anxious about their academic performance or workload, while 25% felt lonely. These figures are especially significant given how important family support is for young people’s overall contentment.
Answer the following question, based on the above passage:
Survey findings indicate that financial security and family support significantly boost happiness among Indian youth. Conversely, academic stress and loneliness adversely affect their mental well-being. Specifically, 66% of Indian youth cite financial security as a major happiness contributor, with 89% reporting family support as equally important. However, 65% experience stress from academic demands, and 25% report feelings of loneliness.
Read the text given below
1. Five enterprises received approval and grants for prototype development of sustainable educational toys.
2. The government authorities, educational institutions, and EdTech start-ups are planning to introduce state-of-the-art, made-in-India educational toys that not only throw light on Indian values and civilizations but also help in developing children’s critical thinking and decision-making skills.
3. One such enterprise is working on different types of projects that can teach children how electromagnets and magnetic fields work. These projects can resolve a lot of issues in many schools in tier two and three cities that don't have proper infrastructure. Another is working on an excavation site to teach children about ancient Indian civilizations. It has implanted a few artifacts at the site, which the children will have to find so that they learn how to preserve and label artifacts. Another start-up has proposed to create miniaturized labs for schools in tier two and three cities where children can learn concepts of Physics. "We will ensure that these prototypes are developed within a year and then the production can be scaled up," says the senior manager of the project, talking about the importance of indigenously-built educational toys.
4. Playtime is vital for the cognitive development of children, and toys are an essential component that helps enhance specific cognitive abilities and skill sets. "Well-designed toys ignite students’ curiosity, increase focus, and can be very beneficial in helping them master a skill and enhance understanding. These can be in the form of visuals, auditory aids, kinesthetic, or a mixture of all three," says the HOD of Early Childhood Education.
5. Toys offer an engaging avenue to teach mathematical, verbal, and problem-solving skills. "Toys that engage students in experiential learning enhance their spatial awareness and fine motor skills. Those designed for two or more players help students develop better social skills as they learn to negotiate, settle differences, etc., with their peers."
6. Experiential gadgets and toys enable students to learn faster and retain lessons longer. "A child's interest is piqued when taught in a contextual framework as opposed to rote learning. The Indian education system has been witnessing several innovations with the development of toys and gadgets that can be used and felt in person or through VR platforms across subjects, be it Science, Technology, Math, or Engineering."
Read the text given below:
1. People below the age of 20 and above the age of 50 are more likely to believe fake news. Those relatively new to the use of the internet still do not grasp the concept of fake information over these platforms, reveals a new survey "Countering Misinformation in India." This survey has been conducted jointly by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI).
2. At least 40% of the respondents believed in "misinformation" received over social media if it came with leading backgrounds and evidence, while 34% of them believe the information when it is shared by a trustworthy organization.
3. The dominant factor that drives people to forward such information is their belief that it might benefit others and help in their safety. In fact, that was the response of almost 50% of the respondents. This was compounded by the fact that at least 20% of the respondents expressed their lack of trust in conventional media, thus placing their faith in content shared by common people over social media.
4. But even then, newspapers still remain the top source of information for most. At least 53% of the respondents trust what is generally perceived as neutral media, and only 29% trust technology and social media platforms.
5. However, what was surprising was that almost 45% of the respondents did not even know about the existence of fact-checking organizations, and most did not even know that journalists had to verify data before they let it out. Only 26% of the respondents believe that it is the responsibility of the media to curb or identify fake news. Many respondents also put the responsibility of identifying such fake news on individuals.
6. The survey has found that first-time or early users of internet platforms are more susceptible to fake news than others. There is a need for building capacities and creating a National Civic Digital Literacy Strategic Plan.