NEW DELHI: India's digital revolution has successfully placed mobile phones in almost every household, yet it has fallen short of achieving meaningful digital inclusion. A recent report reveals that while 95.1% of households own a mobile device and 74.8% have access to a smartphone or internet-enabled phone, only 39.7% of individuals aged 15 and above use the internet. Furthermore, merely 16.1% of connected households use it for online education, and just 11.4% access government services online.
The New Phase of Digital Divide
The report, titled 'The Evolving Landscape of Digital Inclusion in India', was released by the National Council of Applied Economic Research in partnership with The Quantum Hub and Women in Digital Economy Network. It argues that India's digital divide has entered a new phase. The first divide was about owning a phone; the next is about whether people can use digital technologies to access education, jobs, finance, welfare services, and social opportunities.
Based on the India Human Development Survey data, covering 47,000 households and 2.1 lakh individuals, the study suggests that mobile-led inclusion has widened access but not necessarily empowerment. "India's next digital challenge is not merely expanding connectivity, but ensuring meaningful and equitable participation in the digital economy," the report stated. It added that the key question was whether digital transformation would "reduce, or reproduce, existing social and economic inequalities."
Device Ownership and Connectivity Gaps
While mobile ownership is nearly universal, only 8% of households own a computer or laptop, and 2.3% own a tablet. Computer ownership drops to 1.2% among the poorest households compared with 23.1% among the richest. Connectivity gaps also persist, with around 27.5% of households remaining offline, including 32.2% in rural India and 52.1% among the poorest consumption group.
Entertainment-Driven Internet Use
Even among connected households, internet use is largely entertainment-driven. About 66% use it to watch movies, television, or news content, and 53.8% use social media. In contrast, only 16.1% use it for online courses and 11.4% access government services digitally. The report identifies a "hidden divide": one in five households requires help from someone outside to use digital services, rising to one in three among households with no formal education.
Gender Disparities
Gender disparities remain significant. Internet use among working-age adults stands at 57.6% for men and 35.6% for women. Additionally, only 37.8% of children aged 13-16 actively use the internet, indicating a gap in digital engagement among youth.
Recommendations for Digital Inclusion
The study calls for four priorities to bridge the digital divide:
- Expanding affordable broadband and public Wi-Fi
- Improving access to computers and shared devices
- Strengthening digital literacy and skills
- Targeting women, rural households, poorer families, and disadvantaged communities
About the Author: Manash Pratim Gohain is a seasoned journalist with over two decades at The Times of India, where he has built a rich body of work spanning education policy, politics, and governance. Renowned for his incisive coverage of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, accreditation reforms, and skilling initiatives, he has also reported on student politics, urban policy, and social movements. His political reportage—both reflective and news-driven—adds depth to his writing, bridging policy with public impact. Through his 2,500 articles and related outlets, he has emerged as a trusted voice in national discourse, particularly in linking education reform to broader societal change.
