NOISE POLLUTION IN INDIA: IT'S IMPACT ON YOUTH

This paper examines the rapidly escalating crisis of noise pollution in India and its multi-dimensional impact on the youth demographic (aged 15–29 years), who constitute nearly a third of the nation’s population. In an era characterized by hyper-urbanization, technological proliferation, and industrialization, noise has ceased to be an occasional urban nuisance and has transformed into a persistent, invisible environmental pollutant. This study investigates the contemporary technological practices of Indian youth, specifically analyzing their extensive consumption of personal audio devices (headphones, ear buds) and exposure to recreational and vehicular ambient noise exceeding safe limits (70 dB). Utilizing an interdisciplinary approach, the paper delineates the profound physiological and psychological consequences of chronic acoustic exposure, including noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), cardiovascular strain, metabolic dysregulation, and sleep disorders like chronic insomnia that trigger systemic anxiety and cognitive fatigue. Furthermore, the paper critiques the existing constitutional and statutory architecture in India, including Article 21 of the Constitution, the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. It reveals systemic enforcement gaps, an absence of preventative technological design standards, and a pervasive lack of public awareness. Finally, the paper advocates for robust socio-legal remedies, statutory modifications, and judicial interventions to establish a sustainable acoustic environment for future generations.