A new MOSPI study (MIS 79th round) highlights deep digital divide patterns across caste, class, gender, andrural-urbanslines in India.
Trends & Data on Digital Divide:
- Caste Divide:Individuals without ICT skills — STs (89.49%), SCs (86.62%), OBCs (81.73%), Others (73.71%) - showing persistent caste-linked deprivation.
- Gender Divide:ICT skills nationally — Men (22.78%) vs Women (13.91%); in UP — Men (14.62%) vs Women (6.93%).
- Class/Income Divide:Access to a computer with internet — Poorest 20% (6.8%) vs Richest 20% (66.3%), a ten-fold gap.
- Rural–Urban Divide:ICT skills highly concentrated among urban households; rural areas face low device availability, poor infrastructure, and lowdigital exposure.
- Schooling Divide:Private ICSE/CBSE schools teach coding from Class 3; government schools often lack electricity or computers even in Class 8.
Implications of the Digital Divide:
Unequal access to jobs—ICT skills strongly correlate with regular salaried employment; marginalised groups remain trapped in low-wage work.
Weak participation in digital economydespite smartphone ownership; “ownership ≠ capability” leads to under-utilisation of digital tools.
Widening caste andclass inequality as better-off groups move ahead in digital skilling, compounding historical disadvantages.
Low productivity and poor competitivenessdue to limited availability of digitally skilled workers in rural and low-income regions.
Gender exclusion from future-ready jobs, restricting women’s mobility, income, and professional participation.
Intergenerational disadvantage as children from marginalised groups remain several steps behind even when they enter higher education.
IAS-2026 - OPTIONAL / GEOGRAPHY / PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION / SOCIOLOGY / ANTHROPOLOGY / ORIENTATION ON 03 & 04-10-2025 
