Author: Pankaj Chowdhury
Abstract
In today’s world, citizen’s active participation in economic, political, and social life increasingly depends on the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs). ICT has the potential to transform the economy, but economically and socially disadvantaged communities face additional barriers to accessing modern digital technologies. The primary aim of this study is to address the first-level digital divide among Indian households. Internet Access at the household level is chosen as the pivotal variable for measuring the digital divide due to its unparalleled significance in today’s digital era. Bivariate analysis of household-level internet access was conducted using cross-tabulation, applying sample weights for accurate percentage distribution. Binary logistic regression was employed to gauge the relationship strength between independent and dependent variables, helping to quantify associations between internet access and relevant socio-economic, socio-demographic and geographic factors. The study is conducted for 636,292 households. Only 49% of household heads reported that they have Internet access in their household. Household heads with 12-20 years of education exhibit an almost 4 times higher likelihood of having internet access compared to household heads with no education. Based on the findings presented, several policy implications can be derived to address the disparities in internet access and promote digital inclusion.
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Keywords: digital divide, digital divide in india, information technology development, national family health survey 5, internet access
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