India's digital divide is not only about internet connectivity; it is also about skills, device availability and socio-economic access. The Comprehensive Annual Modular Survey conducted as part of the 79th National Sample Survey collected information on indicators such as education, use of mobile and internet, financial inclusion, ICT skills and possession of assets. In this context, the digital divide needs to be read through both access and capability.
The available figures on India's digital divide show a large gender gap in ICT skills: 22.78% among men and 13.91% among women. This gap shows why digital inclusion cannot be discussed only in terms of network reach or devices; actual ability to use digital tools is also central. The income-based gap is sharper. Computer-with-internet access is reported at 6.8% among the poorest 20% of households and 66.3% among the richest 20%. This is a nearly ten-fold difference. Low device availability in rural areas further deepens the divide.
For RAS and UPSC preparation, this topic links national current affairs with Indian Economy, social justice, skill development and inclusive growth. In static GK, it can be connected with human capital, digital literacy, gender equality and rural-urban inequality. For mains, it supports policy points on targeted digital training, access for women and poor households, and rural device availability. For prelims, figures such as 22.78%, 13.91%, 6.8%, 66.3% and the poorest/richest 20% household groups are directly testable.