New Delhi: Eleven years after the launch of the Digital India programme, the Central Government has highlighted how the initiative has transformed internet connectivity, digital governance, cyber security and artificial intelligence across the country. From expanding broadband access in rural India to strengthening data protection and promoting AI innovation, the government says Digital India is laying the foundation for a secure and inclusive digital economy.
Replying to a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Shri Jitin Prasada presented an overview of the government’s efforts to strengthen digital infrastructure while ensuring cyber security and responsible use of emerging technologies.
Digital Connectivity Expands Across India
The government said Digital India has significantly improved internet access over the past decade through initiatives such as BharatNet and Digital Bharat Nidhi.
Some of the key achievements include:
- Telephone connections increased from 93.3 crore (2014) to over 133 crore (March 2026).
- Internet subscribers rose from 25.15 crore to 109.27 crore.
- 2.21 lakh Gram Panchayats are now service-ready under BharatNet.
- BharatNet Points of Presence are operational in 80,472 Gram Panchayats.
- 24,784 mobile towers have been commissioned under the Digital Bharat Nidhi-funded mobile connectivity programme.
The government said affordable internet has also driven digital inclusion, with mobile data prices dropping from ₹269 per GB in 2014 to around ₹8-10 per GB in 2025-26.
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Digital Public Infrastructure Powers Governance
According to the Ministry of Electronics and IT, India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) has become the backbone of welfare delivery and public services.
Major platforms have recorded significant growth:
- Aadhaar: More than 1.44 billion Aadhaar numbers generated.
- Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): Over ₹52 lakh crore transferred across 318 schemes of 56 ministries.
- UPI: Serving 55.49 crore users, 6.5 crore merchants and 731 banks, while accounting for 85% of India’s digital payments and nearly half of global real-time digital transactions.
- DigiLocker: 71.66 crore registered users with over 936 crore digital documents.
- UMANG: Offering 2,575 citizen services, including 48 services from the Madhya Pradesh Government.
- e-Sanjeevani: More than 48 crore telemedicine consultations completed.
- Common Service Centres: 5.01 lakh CSCs operational nationwide, including 3.91 lakh at Gram Panchayat level.
These platforms have enabled citizens to access welfare schemes, healthcare, education and government services digitally.
Building Digital Skills and Employment
The government said Digital India is not limited to infrastructure but is also focused on creating a digitally skilled workforce.
The Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) has trained over 6.39 crore people, making it one of the world’s largest digital literacy programmes.
Other initiatives include:
- FutureSkills Prime: More than 34 lakh registrations and 23 lakh candidates trained.
- NIELIT: Operates 56 centres and a network of over 9,000 partner institutes for digital skill development.
The Ministry also highlighted the growing contribution of India’s IT sector. According to NASSCOM, the IT and ITeS industry generated an estimated USD 283 billion in FY25, while more than 2,100 Global Capability Centres (GCCs) employ nearly 26 lakh professionals.
Boost for Startups and Innovation
To strengthen technology entrepreneurship, the government has expanded innovation infrastructure across the country.
It has established 73 Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) centres, including 65 in Tier-II and Tier-III cities.
The GENESIS Scheme aims to support around 1,600 technology startups through 65 incubation centres, helping startups scale and commercialise innovative technologies.
Cyber Security and Data Protection Get Stronger
The government said several institutional and legal mechanisms are now in place to improve cyber resilience.
These include:
- National Cyber Security Coordinator (NCSC)
- Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In)
- National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC)
- Cyber Swachhta Kendra
- Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C)
- National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC)
The Ministry is also conducting nationwide cyber awareness campaigns on cyber hygiene, online fraud prevention and deepfake risks.
On data privacy, the government highlighted the implementation of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025, which establish a legal framework for responsible handling of personal data and provide for the phased establishment of the Data Protection Board.
IndiaAI Mission to Drive the Next Phase
Artificial Intelligence has emerged as another key pillar of Digital India.
Approved with an outlay of ₹10,371.92 crore, the IndiaAI Mission focuses on:
- High-performance AI computing infrastructure.
- Indigenous Large Language Models and foundation models.
- AI applications for governance and public services.
- AI skill development through FutureSkills.
- AIKosh datasets platform.
- Safe and responsible AI frameworks.
- Startup financing for AI innovation.
The government said the mission aims to generate employment, encourage research and ensure that AI development addresses India’s unique socio-economic needs.
A Decade of Digital Transformation
The Digital India programme has evolved from improving internet access to creating a comprehensive digital ecosystem that supports governance, financial inclusion, healthcare, education and entrepreneurship. With continued investments in cyber security, AI, digital infrastructure and citizen-centric services, the government aims to make technology more accessible, secure and inclusive while supporting India’s long-term digital economy goals.
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