Digital 2.0: Access to mobiles up, but not empowerment
NEW DELHI: India’s digital revolution has succeeded in putting mobile phones in nearly every household, but it has fallen short of delivering meaningful digital inclusion. A report has found 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, 16.1% of connected households use it for online education and just 11.4% access govt services online.‘The Evolving Landscape of Digital Inclusion in India’, released by the National Council of Applied Economic Research in partnership with The Quantum Hub and Women in Digital Economy Network, 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 mobile-led inclusion had 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 said. The key question was whether digital transformation would “reduce, or reproduce, existing social and economic inequalities”, it adds.While mobile ownership is nearly universal, only 8% of households own a computer/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. Around 27.5% of households remain offline, including 32.2% in rural India and 52.1% among the poorest consumption group. 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, compared with 16.1% who use it for online courses and 11.4% who access govt services digitally.The report identifies a “hidden divide”. One in five households requires help from someone outside, rising to one in three among households with no formal education.Gender disparities remain significant. Internet use among working-age adults stands at 57.6% for men and 35.6% for women, while only 37.8% of children aged 13-16 actively use the internet.The study calls for four priorities: expanding affordable broadband and public Wi-Fi, improving access to computers and shared devices, strengthening digital literacy and skills, and targeting women, rural households, poorer families and disadvantaged communities.
