SIDE REPORT 2024 “India as a nation is highly digitalised, the average Indian is not” The rapid growth of digital technologies and the internet have dramatically changed the socio economic landscapes around the world. Yet, in India, there's still a significant digital divide between regions, facing many challenges when it comes to access and inclusion. In spite of substantial investments in digital infrastructure and e governance initiatives, regional disparities in access to and use of digital technologies persist across Indian states. Among the States, Karnataka is one of the leading Indian states in information technology and digital innovation. While cities such as Bengaluru represent global digital hubs, several other regions within the state continue to face significant deficits in digital infrastructure and capabilities. Among these, the Kalyana Karnataka region is historically characterised by economic and social backwardness presents a critical case for examining regional digital disparities. Digital inclusion is the way out for bringing the entire population of the State within the ambit of digitization. It has rightly emerged as a critical driving force of socio-economic development in the contemporary knowledge economy. In this backdrop this paper examines the nature and extent of the digital divide in Karnataka, with a specific focus on comparing the Kalyana Karnataka region with the rest of the State. The paper based on empirical data gathered from national and Karnataka Economic survey and reports, the study analyses disparities in digital access, connectivity, affordability, and digital literacy. The findings reveal that Kalyana Karnataka continues to lag behind other regions of Karnataka across multiple indicators of digital inclusion, reflecting broader socio-economic and infrastructural inequalities. The paper highlights the implications of these disparities for development and policy, and suggests targeted interventions to bridge the regional digital divide.
Dr. Shilpa Bhimrao Gaonkar (Fri,) studied this question.