Economic Survey 2026: Beyond GDP, Focus on Health, Junk Food, and Social Media

• The 2025-26 Economic Survey, led by Chief Economic Advisor Anantha Nageswaran, unusually broadens its scope beyond traditional GDP and economic forecasts to include public health concerns.
• It extensively discusses the adverse effects of junk food consumption, excessive TV watching, and social media use, linking them to rising obesity rates among adolescents and adults.
• The survey highlights the increasing trend of obesity, particularly in urban areas, citing data from the National Family Health Survey and emphasizing the need for precautions among the younger generation.
• Nageswaran warns against packaged foods and beverages, recommending reduced consumption of high-fat items and calling for government, private sector, and voluntary organization cooperation in health initiatives.
• It suggests controlling social media use, especially for children under 16, citing Andhra Pradesh's efforts, and stresses the importance of healthcare for long-term economic development and human resource optimization.

Why It Matters: The Economic Survey 2026 uniquely integrates public health, lifestyle, and social media impacts into economic development.