DIGITAL DIVIDE IN INDIA: AN OBSTACLE TO ACHIEVE INCLUSIVE & EQUITABLE EDUCATION

The development of a nation depends upon its educated and healthy labour force. Human
developments indicators to a great extent play an important role in spearheading the
development process of a nation. Of the various human development indicators,
education needs special mention as it is a driving factor which can lead to healthy and
skilled workforce capable enough to earn better income as well. UN Sustainable
Development Goal 4 stresses on the importance to ensure an inclusive and equitable
quality education. But the unexpected covid-19 pandemic has struck various sectors of
the economy including the education sector delaying the achievement of this goal. This
study tries to investigate the obstacles in the form of disparities which exist in education
sector and to explore the digital divide which exist among rural-urban areas and between
sex using secondary data from NSS and TRAI as well as suggest possible measures to
deal with the problems. Variables like Net Attendance Ratio, Dropout Rates, Computer
and Internet facility available etc. were used to carry out the study.