Digital literacy and the future of work: Reflecting and preparing India’s youth for the digital economy

India has made impressive strides towards improving digital access, but the country’s digital literacy levels still pose a huge gap. The latest National Sample Survey-based analysis shows that only 38% of Indian households are digitally literate with a significant gap between urban and rural regions. This contrasts with India’s broader literacy progress, over 80% of the population is now literate, a milestone achieved through sustained efforts across government, private and social sectors. Yet while traditional literacy has grown steadily, digital literacy has not kept pace: only 12% of individuals above the age of 15 possess basic ICT skills. At the same time, India remains one of the largest digital economies globally, ranked as the third-largest economy yet placed 28th in digital user spending, reflecting a starling gap that needs redressal (source).