According to a recent Comprehensive Annual Modular Survey (CAMS), conducted by the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation from July 2022 to June 2023, over 82 per cent of youth aged 15 to 25 in rural areas can use the internet, while the figure is nearly 92 per cent in urban areas.
The survey highlighted that 95.7 per cent of individuals aged 15-24 in rural regions can operate mobile phones, slightly lower than the 97 per cent in urban settings. Meanwhile, 78.4 per cent of youth in this age group can send messages with attachments, and 71.2 per cent are capable of using copy-and-paste functions. Additionally, only 26.8 per cent can perform more complex tasks such as searching for information, sending emails, and online banking.
Household access to communication technology is also notable, with 95.1 per cent of households owning a telephone or mobile phone, 94.2 per cent in rural and 97.1 per cent in urban areas. However, computer ownership remains low at 9.9 per cent, with just 4.2 per cent in rural areas compared to 21.6 per cent in urban locales.
Notably, it was found that 94.6 per cent of individuals aged 18 and above have bank accounts or access to financial services.
Overall, these findings underscore significant disparities between rural and urban youth regarding internet usage and access to technology while highlighting areas for potential improvement in education and employment opportunities for young people across India.
