Digital Divide in India: Measurement, Determinants and Policy for Addressing the Challenges in Bridging the Digital Divide

: In the recent years, the notion of `digital divide' has been widely researched, and has attracted much debate and speculation for its economic, social and political consequences. Existing studies reveals, the gap that exists between those who have access to ICTs and those who do not create exclusion, endanger social integration and hamper economic growth. The digital divide has many dimensions and can be categorized as global, regional and national. At national level, there is no single divide, but multiple divides: for instance; within countries, between men and women, young and elderly, rich and poor and most importantly rural and urban. The present paper is mainly focused on India and tries to explore problem of digital divide mainly in rural-urban India. In the context of present paper digital divide essentially means teledensity, mobile and Internet divide between the rural and urban areas. The paper reveals that obstacles such as illiteracy, lack of skills, infrastructures...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2010
• Where: IJIDE
• Authors: Sumanjeet Singh
• Keywords: Digital Divide, IJIDE 2010, India, Present Paper