The Status of Digital Divide and Education in India

Abstract

Despite the sharp rise in telecommunication access in the developing nations, the global digital divide is getting wider. This frustrating situation creates a “digital divide”, which refers to the gap between people with effective access to digital and information technology and those with very limited or no access at all. It includes the imbalances in physical access to technology as well as the imbalances in resources and skills needed to effectively participate as a digital citizen. This paper attempts to look in to the status of  education and digital penetration in India based on the NSS Survey. It is found that the level of digital penetration at the household level is low in rural areas but relatively high in urban areas. In North India, the level of  digital penetration is highest both for rural and urban areas while it is lowest in Eastern India for rural India  and Central India for urban India. At the individual level, both level of education and internet usability is low in rural and urban areas of the country. This indication of digital divide ensures that a collaborative effort from all stakeholders is needed to bridge the gap.