The Supreme Court has directed that children be taught about their bodies, the difference between safe and unsafe touch, and the significance of consent from the primary stage, as part of age-appropriate sex education and digital safety curriculum.

The Court further directed schools and educational institutions to display child-protection helplines in every classroom, hostel, library and computer laboratory, and to train teachers and other staff to recognise grooming, abuse and online harassment and respond appropriately when a child discloses an incident.

The Court has also directed the Union and State Governments to conduct sustained public awareness campaigns on child sexual abuse and exploitation, and establish mechanisms to provide free counselling, psychological support and therapy to victims for as long as necessary.

A bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice K. Vinod Chandran issued these directions while examining the implementation of safeguards against the circulation of child sexual exploitation and abuse material (CSEAM) online.

The Court emphasised that children must be equipped to recognise danger, understand inappropriate behaviour and know where to seek help. It observed that digital safety awareness and sex education were two sides of the same coin.

“We are also of the view that awareness of digital safety and sex education are not two separate subjects, but two sides of the same coin, and must be addressed as such. Children from an early age must be made aware of the persons they should meet and interact with, the ability to tell inappropriate requests, gestures and advances, the respect for their own dignity and of those around them, and most importantly where and whom to turn to when inappropriate any unpleasant incident does unfortunately occur. These are all concerns and measures crucial for the safety of their presence online inasmuch as for their lives outside”, the Court observed

The directions address measures to improve children's safety and wellbeing beyond the technological mechanisms required to detect and remove abusive content.

Children Must Be Taught About Safe And Unsafe Touch, Consent

The Court directed that children, from the primary stage, be taught in an age-appropriate manner about their bodies, the difference between safe and unsafe touch, and the significance of consent.

It also emphasised that children must develop an understanding of healthy relationships and respect for one another. “Equally important is the need to inculcate in our children an understanding of healthy relationships and respect for one another. Experience has shown that on occasions, it is children themselves who capture, upload or circulate intimate or non consensual images of their own peers, often without realising the gravity of what they do. Thus, it is imperative that they be taught to respect the dignity of their peers, and be cautioned against all forms of inappropriate conduct”, the Court said.

Children must also be educated on safe internet use, protecting their personal data and privacy, and recognising signs of enticement, sexual extortion and other exploitative or abusive practices.

The Court emphasised that children must know whom they can approach in such situations, including a trusted adult at home or school, and the appropriate channels through which they can report wrongful behaviour or incidents occurring either online or offline.

It stressed that children must be encouraged to report incidents without fear and must be assured that speaking up would not invite reproach and that they would receive help and support with complete confidentiality.

The Court directed that children be made aware of the significance of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Information Technology Act, particularly provisions criminalising the viewing, possession or circulation of child sexual exploitation and abuse material (CSEAM), as well as their rights under these laws.

Digital Safety And Sex Education To Form Part Of Core Curriculum

The Court directed that digital safety and age-appropriate sex education form part of the core curriculum. The curriculum must be developed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and the State Councils of Educational Research and Training (SCERTs), in consultation with child psychologists, educators and parenting experts.

The material must account for different levels of literacy across the country and use text-based courses, pictorial representations, illustrations and audio-visual content.

The Court observed that children often begin using the internet before they understand its risks, including the possibility of strangers posing as friends, inappropriate requests being presented as innocent interactions, and online activities being used to entrap them.

It highlighted that safeguards designed to make the internet safer would have limited value if children were unaware of the risks they face or the steps available to protect themselves.

Helplines Must Be Displayed In Classrooms, Schools Must Install Content Filters

The Court directed that the Child Helpline number 1098, the Cyber Crime Helpline number 1930, the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and details of State-wise nodal officers must be displayed in every classroom, hostel, library and computer laboratory. The information must also appear on the website of every school and educational institution.

It further directed that devices and networks within schools and educational institutions be equipped with filters to prevent access to harmful content in a reasonable and proportionate manner.

These measures must extend, with greater rigour, to hostels, childcare institutions, tuition centres and coaching centres, the Court ordered.

Teachers Must Be Trained To Identify Grooming And Respond To Disclosures

The Court directed that teachers and other school staff receive adequate training on digital safety and age-appropriate positive sex education.

The training must cover signs of grooming, abuse and online harassment, the manner in which teaching and non-teaching staff should respond when a child discloses an incident, the reporting obligations under the POCSO Act, and the need to maintain confidentiality concerning the child, the Court emphasised.

Under Section 19 of the POCSO Act, any person who apprehends or has knowledge of the commission of, or the likelihood of commission of, a POCSO offence has to report it to the Special Juvenile Police Unit or local police. Section 21 prescribes punishment of up to one years' imprisonment and/or fine for failure to report or record a case as required under the Act.

Parents To Be Trained On Online Risks, Parental Controls

The Court observed that parents and guardians are, in most cases, the first line of defence in protecting children, but many are themselves unfamiliar with the technology their children use.

It directed schools and educational institutions to organise awareness programmes for parents and guardians at regular intervals.

The programmes must cover the risks children face online, parental controls and safety settings available on devices and platforms, signs that a child may be in distress, and the appropriate way to respond.

Parents must also be sensitised on monitoring children's online activities while avoiding mistrust or miscommunication arising from parental supervision, the Court directed.

Governments Must Run Sustained Awareness Campaigns

The Court directed the Union and State Governments, in conjunction with the respective Commissions for Protection of Child Rights, to create awareness about the POCSO Act and the various forms of child abuse and exploitation, particularly those involving digital means such as CSEAM.

The campaigns must be sustained rather than sporadic and disseminated through television, social media, telecommunication channels and SMS, over-the-top (OTT) platforms, print media and public signage, the Court said.

The Court held that governments and child rights commissions must also raise awareness among all stakeholders about measures for children's digital safety and the helplines and support portals available. Parents, guardians, teachers and others acting in a parental role must be sensitised on how to respond appropriately to incidents of abuse and exploitation.

Online Platforms Must Warn Children About Contact With Unknown Adults

The Court also directed online intermediaries to periodically remind children about the safe use of their platforms and the safety centres, privacy settings and help options available to them.

Platforms must display cautionary prompts when a child attempts to connect, message or interact with an unknown adult. They must also display appropriate warnings when a user enters a search term or query associated with CSEAM.

Victims Must Receive Free Counselling And Psychological Support

The Court directed the Union and State Governments to establish support mechanisms for victims of abuse or exploitation, whether online or otherwise.

These mechanisms must provide ready access to counselling, psychological support and therapy by trained professionals, free of cost and for as long as necessary, the Court said, adding that the governments must also put in place follow-up mechanisms to oversee the continued wellbeing of victims.

The Court directed the Union Government to file an affidavit setting out the progress made in implementing the measures and safeguards discussed in the order by the next date of hearing, December 10, 2026.

Also from the judgment - Right To Access & Use Internet A Fundamental Right Of Every Individual Including Children : Supreme Court

Supreme Court Directs Union To Create National Database On Child Sexual Exploitation & Abuse Materials (CSEAM) For Removal Across Platforms