Digital Inclusion and Women Development: Evidence from Indian States

The present study utilizes the recently released data from NSS, 78th round, 2020–2021, which highlights the disparities between men and women in information and communication technology (ICT) skills across Indian states. Analysing the nine ICT skills, the paper explores the gender disparity based on location, caste, education, and wealth inequalities. The lowest computer literacy is found amongst ST females. ICT skills tend to increase with higher levels of education and wealth across social categories. Amongst these categories, there is a notable convergence in computer skills between women from OBC and OC groups across all wealth levels. However, women from SC and ST communities still lag in acquiring these skills. The findings show that gender gaps in ICT skills are moderate to high in some high-growth states but lower in certain low-growth states. Correlation shows that human and gender development reduces the gender gap in ICT skills, while GDP per capita does not. Based on our study findings, we suggest a need for women-centric policies prioritizing their computer literacy in India. Underperforming states with a higher gender gap in computer skills such as Uttarakhand, Telangana, and Karnataka require a committed approach to providing ICT skills to females. In alignment with this, India should focus on imparting ICT skills at all levels of education.