Digital Access and Layers of Digital Divide in India

The digital divide in India both in the access and usage of ICTs and the internet is real and deep. It leads to an exclusionary consequence in the education, health and finance sectors. In a country plagued by high socioeconomic inequality, the digitisation process will take time particularly considering the existing human Capital indicators. The digital divide becomes particularly problematic when half of the population neither has access to gadgets and the internet or the technological know-how to move to a digital environment. There is a dire requirement of increasing the adoption and usage of ICTs among the less-favorable demographic profile (older age groups and women) and social groups of digital divide.