Internet Usage in Rural India
Growth of Internet Usage in Rural India
- Internet subscribers in rural India grew from 34.3 crore (Sept 2022) to
39.8 crore
(March 2024) (16% growth).
- The total internet subscriber base in India increased from 81.5 crore to
95.4
crore during the same period.
- Rural internet subscribers' share increased from 40% to 42% .
- Urban internet users grew at a slower rate, from 50.7 crore to 55.6 crore
(9.6%
growth) .
- States like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Maharashtra lead in rural
internet
subscriptions.
Digital Consumption Patterns in Rural Areas
- Online gaming: 43.8 crore users in India, with 24.5 crore from rural areas.
- OTT consumption (video & audio): 70.7 crore total users, with 37.5 crore from
rural areas.
- Social media usage: 29.9 crore rural users.
- Communication (messaging, calls, etc.): 31.7 crore rural users.
- Online learning: Only 5 crore rural users, indicating a digital divide in
educational access.
Reasons for High Digital Entertainment Consumption in Rural India
- Lack of physical entertainment avenues like malls, theaters,
etc.
- Availability of regional language content on OTT platforms.
- Family-oriented mobile entertainment habits , different from
urban individual
consumption patterns.
- High penetration of YouTube and rural social media celebrities ,
including sports
personalities.
- Affordability, accessibility, and cultural relevance of digital
content.
Practice questions for Prelims
