Being Connected: Evaluating the Digital Divide in India
摘要
The Telecommunications Act 2023 not only attempts to provide uninterrupted digital connectivity, but in consonance with larger policy objectives, aims to increase the pace of digitisation and put India at the forefront of global technological advancement through a series of reforms. Despite significant progress in digital transformation within India, there exists a grave digital divide in the country, with yawning inequalities in access, utilisation, and usage of ICTs across geographies, gender, age, education, inter alia. Even after significant improvements in proliferation and diffusion of ICTs, there are still many who are not connected. These ‘technology have-nots’ are in danger of being left out of the development process. The digital divide also exacerbates other divides, particularly with respect to mobility; and access to economic opportunity, education, and healthcare. This paper attempts to provide a comprehensive assessment of the digital divide in India. It looks at its various dimensions and its socio-economic implications. The impact of complex interplay of economic and social factors such as infrastructure, digital literacy, affordability, demography, gender, and caste on the nature and magnitude of the digital divide is also examined. We conclude by analysing existing policies to bridge this divide and offer some policy suggestions.