Lok Sabha Question No. 373 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-03
Subject: Digital Literacy
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Pinaki Misra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 373

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 03.01.2021

## DIGITAL LITERACY

## 373.     SHRI PINAKI MISRA:

Will the Minister of Electronics & Information Technology be pleased to state:-

- (a) the digital literacy rate in the country, urban and rural, and state/UT-wise;
- (b) the definition of 'digital literacy' in the National Digital Literacy Mission, Digital Saksharta Abhiyan and the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan schemes;
- (c) the total number of people covered under the aforementioned schemes, State/UT-wise;
- (d) whether  any  steps  are  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  address  the  disparity  in  the  progress  of existing schemes across different states and UTs, and if so, the details thereof, and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether the Government has any plans to expand the coverage of digital literacy schemes, and if so, the details thereof, and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (f) whether any steps are being taken by the Government to improve the country's digital infrastructure of the Country, and if so, the details thereof ?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

(a):  National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) had published the 71st Round Survey Report titled 'Social Consumption  -  Education  Survey  2014',  which  inter-alia  covers  IT  Literacy.  As  per  this  report,  the proportion of households in the Country having computer was found to be around 14% (only 6% of rural households  and  29%  of  urban  households  possessed  computer).  The  State/UT-wise  proportion  of households having access to computer is at Annexure-I .  Further, for the age 14  years and above, the ability to operate computer in rural and urban areas was reported as under:

| Proportion (per 1000) of population (age 14 years and above and can operate computer) by types of ability to use a computer   | Proportion (per 1000) of population (age 14 years and above and can operate computer) by types of ability to use a computer   | Proportion (per 1000) of population (age 14 years and above and can operate computer) by types of ability to use a computer   | Proportion (per 1000) of population (age 14 years and above and can operate computer) by types of ability to use a computer   | Proportion (per 1000) of population (age 14 years and above and can operate computer) by types of ability to use a computer   | Proportion (per 1000) of population (age 14 years and above and can operate computer) by types of ability to use a computer   |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Rural                                                                                                                         | Rural                                                                                                                         | Rural                                                                                                                         | Urban                                                                                                                         | Urban                                                                                                                         | Urban                                                                                                                         |
| Able to use computer word processing typing                                                                                   | Able to use internet for searching desired information                                                                        | Able to use internet for sending e-mails                                                                                      | Able to use computer word processing typing                                                                                   | Able to use internet for searching desired information                                                                        | Able to use internet for sending e- mails                                                                                     |
| 234                                                                                                                           | 218                                                                                                                           | 193                                                                                                                           | 840                                                                                                                           | 809                                                                                                                           | 758                                                                                                                           |

(b):  As  per  the  National  Digital  Literacy  Mission,  Digital  Saksharta  Abhiyan  and  the  Pradhan  Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan schemes, the Digital Literacy is defined as ' Digital Literacy is the ability  of  individuals  and  communities  to  understand  and  use  digital  technologies  for  meaningful actions within life situations '.

(c): In the NDLM/DISHA schemes, 1,09,86,469 candidates were registered, 88,08,856 candidates were trained out of which 53,67,092 were duly certified. The State/UT-wise detail is at Annexure-II .

Under  the  PMGDISHA  scheme,  as  on  28.01.2021, 4,16,61,579 candidates  have  been  registered, 3,40,20,338 candidates have been trained and out of which 2,47,31,689 have been duly certified. The details of State/UT-wise training details is given at Annexure-III .

(d) and (e): To address the disparity in the progress of existing schemes across different states and UTs, initiatives are taken up to scale up awareness on digital literacy through registration/ certification drives, online workshops, seminars and other activities by using e-learning, print and electronic media, etc. to cover various segments of the population in an all-inclusive manner.

In order to ensure equitable geographical reach to all the Gram Panchayats across the country, so far, 2,46,868  gram  panchayats  have  been  covered,  under  the  PMGDISHA  Scheme  which  is  under implementation presently with a target to make six crore persons digitally literate in rural areas, covering around 40% of the rural population (one person per household) across States/UTs.

- (f): Following steps are taken by the Ministry of Communications to improve digital infrastructure of the Country:
-  National  Digital  Communications  Policy-2018  was  notified  on  22nd  October,  2018  with strategic objectives which inter-alia include broadband i.e. high speed internet for all
-  National Broadband Mission (NBM) was launched on 17th December 2019 with objectives which inter-alia include Broadband access to all villages and facilitate universal & equitable access to broadband services across the country especially in rural and remote areas
-  BharatNet  project  is  being  implemented  in  a  phased  manner  to  connect  all  the  Gram Panchayats (approx. 2.5 lakh) by broadband/high speed internet infrastructure in the country. As on 15.01.2021, a total of 1,51,504 GPs (including Block Headquarters) have been made service  ready. Further,  BharatNet  is  being  extended  to  connect  over  6  Lakh  villages  of  the country on Optical fibre Cable.

*******

## Annexure-I

| State-wise proportion (per 1000) of households having access to computer [Source: 'NSS KI(71/25.2):Key Indicators of Social Consumption in India : Education']   | State-wise proportion (per 1000) of households having access to computer [Source: 'NSS KI(71/25.2):Key Indicators of Social Consumption in India : Education']   | State-wise proportion (per 1000) of households having access to computer [Source: 'NSS KI(71/25.2):Key Indicators of Social Consumption in India : Education']   | State-wise proportion (per 1000) of households having access to computer [Source: 'NSS KI(71/25.2):Key Indicators of Social Consumption in India : Education']   |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| State                                                                                                                                                            | Rural                                                                                                                                                            | Urban                                                                                                                                                            | Rural + Urban                                                                                                                                                    |
| Andhra Pradesh                                                                                                                                                   | 25                                                                                                                                                               | 232                                                                                                                                                              | 91                                                                                                                                                               |
| Arunachal Pradesh                                                                                                                                                | 88                                                                                                                                                               | 267                                                                                                                                                              | 123                                                                                                                                                              |
| Assam                                                                                                                                                            | 54                                                                                                                                                               | 327                                                                                                                                                              | 91                                                                                                                                                               |
| Bihar                                                                                                                                                            | 23                                                                                                                                                               | 207                                                                                                                                                              | 42                                                                                                                                                               |
| Chhattisgarh                                                                                                                                                     | 11                                                                                                                                                               | 150                                                                                                                                                              | 39                                                                                                                                                               |
| Delhi                                                                                                                                                            | 296                                                                                                                                                              | 342                                                                                                                                                              | 341                                                                                                                                                              |
| Goa                                                                                                                                                              | 464                                                                                                                                                              | 529                                                                                                                                                              | 503                                                                                                                                                              |
| Gujarat                                                                                                                                                          | 71                                                                                                                                                               | 311                                                                                                                                                              | 175                                                                                                                                                              |
| Haryana                                                                                                                                                          | 78                                                                                                                                                               | 316                                                                                                                                                              | 161                                                                                                                                                              |
| Himachal Pradesh                                                                                                                                                 | 146                                                                                                                                                              | 282                                                                                                                                                              | 163                                                                                                                                                              |
| Jammu &Kashmir                                                                                                                                                   | 67                                                                                                                                                               | 255                                                                                                                                                              | 109                                                                                                                                                              |
| Jharkhand                                                                                                                                                        | 24                                                                                                                                                               | 167                                                                                                                                                              | 57                                                                                                                                                               |
| Karnataka                                                                                                                                                        | 57                                                                                                                                                               | 294                                                                                                                                                              | 155                                                                                                                                                              |
| Kerala                                                                                                                                                           | 257                                                                                                                                                              | 379                                                                                                                                                              | 313                                                                                                                                                              |
| Madhya Pradesh                                                                                                                                                   | 32                                                                                                                                                               | 256                                                                                                                                                              | 91                                                                                                                                                               |
| Maharashtra                                                                                                                                                      | 113                                                                                                                                                              | 407                                                                                                                                                              | 249                                                                                                                                                              |
| Manipur                                                                                                                                                          | 60                                                                                                                                                               | 184                                                                                                                                                              | 102                                                                                                                                                              |
| Meghalaya                                                                                                                                                        | 68                                                                                                                                                               | 410                                                                                                                                                              | 138                                                                                                                                                              |
| Mizoram                                                                                                                                                          | 195                                                                                                                                                              | 458                                                                                                                                                              | 313                                                                                                                                                              |
| Nagaland                                                                                                                                                         | 193                                                                                                                                                              | 380                                                                                                                                                              | 238                                                                                                                                                              |
| Odisha                                                                                                                                                           | 21                                                                                                                                                               | 207                                                                                                                                                              | 55                                                                                                                                                               |
| Punjab                                                                                                                                                           | 131                                                                                                                                                              | 380                                                                                                                                                              | 229                                                                                                                                                              |
| Rajasthan                                                                                                                                                        | 86                                                                                                                                                               | 301                                                                                                                                                              | 144                                                                                                                                                              |
| Sikkim                                                                                                                                                           | 193                                                                                                                                                              | 470                                                                                                                                                              | 262                                                                                                                                                              |
| Tamil Nadu                                                                                                                                                       | 130                                                                                                                                                              | 262                                                                                                                                                              | 197                                                                                                                                                              |
| Telangana                                                                                                                                                        | 30                                                                                                                                                               | 224                                                                                                                                                              | 103                                                                                                                                                              |
| Tripura                                                                                                                                                          | 32                                                                                                                                                               | 133                                                                                                                                                              | 55                                                                                                                                                               |
| Uttar Pradesh                                                                                                                                                    | 50                                                                                                                                                               | 267                                                                                                                                                              | 103                                                                                                                                                              |
| Uttarakhand                                                                                                                                                      | 63                                                                                                                                                               | 253                                                                                                                                                              | 112                                                                                                                                                              |
| West Bengal                                                                                                                                                      | 31                                                                                                                                                               | 232                                                                                                                                                              | 95                                                                                                                                                               |
| A &NIslands                                                                                                                                                      | 186                                                                                                                                                              | 279                                                                                                                                                              | 222                                                                                                                                                              |
| Chandigarh                                                                                                                                                       | 320                                                                                                                                                              | 486                                                                                                                                                              | 479                                                                                                                                                              |
| Dadra &N. Haveli                                                                                                                                                 | 80                                                                                                                                                               | 464                                                                                                                                                              | 297                                                                                                                                                              |
| Daman &Diu                                                                                                                                                       | 180                                                                                                                                                              | 217                                                                                                                                                              | 213                                                                                                                                                              |
| Lakshadweep                                                                                                                                                      | 422                                                                                                                                                              | 334                                                                                                                                                              | 351                                                                                                                                                              |
| Puducherry                                                                                                                                                       | 174                                                                                                                                                              | 322                                                                                                                                                              | 269                                                                                                                                                              |
| All India                                                                                                                                                        | 62                                                                                                                                                               | 292                                                                                                                                                              | 137                                                                                                                                                              |

## State-wise Status of NDLM/DISHA Schemes

| State-wise Status of NDLM/DISHA Schemes   | State-wise Status of NDLM/DISHA Schemes   | State-wise Status of NDLM/DISHA Schemes   | State-wise Status of NDLM/DISHA Schemes   | State-wise Status of NDLM/DISHA Schemes   |
|-------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
| S.N .                                     | State                                     | Registere d                               | Trained                                   | Certifie d                                |
| 1                                         | Andaman & Nicobar Islands                 | 2,945                                     | 1,638                                     | 409                                       |
| 2                                         | Andhra Pradesh                            | 3,41,133                                  | 3,32,133                                  | 1,65,767                                  |
| 3                                         | Arunachal Pradesh                         | 12,940                                    | 3,500                                     | 2,139                                     |
| 4                                         | Assam                                     | 2,07,111                                  | 66,566                                    | 51,473                                    |
| 5                                         | Bihar                                     | 9,75,205                                  | 7,66,804                                  | 4,40,129                                  |
| 6                                         | Chandigarh                                | 35,142                                    | 22,847                                    | 13,646                                    |
| 7                                         | Chhattisgarh                              | 3,38,370                                  | 2,57,036                                  | 1,72,451                                  |
| 8                                         | Dadra & Nagar Haveli                      | 440                                       | 343                                       | 186                                       |
| 9                                         | Daman & Diu                               | 2,890                                     | 2,512                                     | 1,376                                     |
| 10                                        | Delhi                                     | 1,54,373                                  | 1,40,633                                  | 81,836                                    |
| 11                                        | Goa                                       | 4,960                                     | 4,390                                     | 1,278                                     |
| 12                                        | Gujarat                                   | 6,32,923                                  | 5,72,955                                  | 3,34,584                                  |
| 13                                        | Haryana                                   | 2,50,085                                  | 2,31,589                                  | 1,33,174                                  |
| 14                                        | Himachal Pradesh                          | 69,341                                    | 62,607                                    | 31,264                                    |
| 15                                        | Jammu & Kashmir                           | 2,81,445                                  | 2,22,244                                  | 1,21,802                                  |
| 16                                        | Jharkhand                                 | 2,51,278                                  | 2,33,349                                  | 1,14,876                                  |
| 17                                        | Karnataka                                 | 7,15,070                                  | 5,55,362                                  | 3,52,666                                  |
| 18                                        | Kerala                                    | 1,18,727                                  | 1,09,535                                  | 49,357                                    |
| 19                                        | Lakshadwee p                              | 135                                       | 97                                        | 20                                        |
| 20                                        | Madhya Pradesh                            | 8,63,799                                  | 6,51,416                                  | 3,65,629                                  |
| 21                                        | Maharashtra                               | 8,89,791                                  | 6,92,597                                  | 4,08,928                                  |
| 22                                        | Manipur                                   | 59,007                                    | 49,865                                    | 31,023                                    |
| 23                                        | Meghalaya                                 | 179                                       | 36                                        | -                                         |
| 24                                        | Mizoram                                   | 19,893                                    | 12,466                                    | 9,507                                     |
| 25                                        | Nagaland                                  | 30,684                                    | 17,531                                    | 12,997                                    |
| 26                                        | Odisha                                    | 2,30,532                                  | 2,21,060                                  | 1,21,099                                  |
| 27                                        | Puducherry                                | 41,882                                    | 40,452                                    | 19,048                                    |
| 28                                        | Punjab                                    | 3,03,453                                  | 2,37,780                                  | 96,962                                    |
| 29                                        | Rajasthan                                 | 9,37,076                                  | 6,99,428                                  | 3,72,376                                  |
| 30                                        | Sikkim                                    | 25,552                                    | 17,758                                    | 10,625                                    |

## Annexure-II

| 31          | Tamil Nadu    | 4,86,310     | 4,72,403   | 2,93,631   |
|-------------|---------------|--------------|------------|------------|
| 32          | Telangana     | 3,42,586     | 2,27,247   | 1,85,853   |
| 33          | Tripura       | 1,06,168     | 81,875     | 42,936     |
| 34          | Uttar Pradesh | 10,33,441    | 7,82,617   | 6,32,707   |
| 35          | Uttarakhand   | 2,37,770     | 2,08,334   | 1,02,021   |
| 36          | West Bengal   | 9,83,833     | 8,09,851   | 5,93,317   |
| Grand Total | Grand Total   | 1,09,86,46 9 | 88,08,85 6 | 53,67,09 2 |

## State-wise Status under PMGDISHA scheme

| State-wise data under PMGDISHA scheme   | State-wise data under PMGDISHA scheme   | State-wise data under PMGDISHA scheme   | State-wise data under PMGDISHA scheme   | State-wise data under PMGDISHA scheme   |
|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
| S. N .                                  | State                                   | Registe red                             | Traine d                                | Certifie d                              |
| 1                                       | Andaman & Nicobar Isl.                  | 289                                     | 93                                      | 33                                      |
| 2                                       | Andhra Pradesh                          | 8,72,75 6                               | 6,31,52 1                               | 4,48,98 7                               |
| 3                                       | Arunachal Pradesh                       | 3,109                                   | 1,039                                   | 729                                     |
| 4                                       | Assam                                   | 19,62,8 75                              | 16,30,9 78                              | 12,64,0 04                              |
| 5                                       | Bihar                                   | 42,95,1 82                              | 36,14,7 44                              | 25,60,3 97                              |
| 6                                       | Chandigarh                              | -                                       | -                                       | -                                       |
| 7                                       | Chhattisgarh                            | 22,34,8 27                              | 18,57,5 46                              | 13,76,2 07                              |
| 8                                       | Dadra and Nagar Haveli                  | 1,193                                   | 369                                     | 256                                     |
| 9                                       | Daman and Diu                           | 999                                     | 489                                     | 316                                     |
| 1 0                                     | Delhi                                   | 225                                     | 125                                     | 90                                      |
| 1 1                                     | Goa                                     | 1,293                                   | 856                                     | 635                                     |
| 1 2                                     | Gujarat                                 | 18,78,7 39                              | 15,73,6 80                              | 11,33,0 33                              |
| 1 3                                     | Haryana                                 | 15,50,1 88                              | 12,87,9 24                              | 9,59,13 3                               |
| 1 4                                     | Himachal Pradesh                        | 2,36,76 7                               | 1,57,78 6                               | 1,14,04 0                               |
| 1                                       | Jammu And                               | 3,18,33                                 | 2,38,30                                 | 1,76,12                                 |
| 5 1                                     | Kashmir Jharkhand                       | 2 18,29,8                               | 5 14,23,6                               | 2                                       |
| 6                                       |                                         | 08                                      | 08                                      | 10,16,4 80                              |
| 1 7                                     | Karnataka                               | 7,12,79 3                               | 5,48,65 4                               | 3,67,27 0                               |
| 1 8                                     | Kerala                                  | 42,307                                  | 19,482                                  | 15,484                                  |
| 1 9                                     | Lakshadweep                             | 26                                      | 5                                       | -                                       |
| 2                                       | Madhya Pradesh                          | 32,07,1                                 | 26,37,1                                 | 18,58,2 05                              |
| 0                                       | Maharashtra                             | 40 25,58,6                              | 18 20,26,1                              |                                         |
| 2 1                                     |                                         | 09                                      | 06                                      | 14,47,9 15                              |
| 2 2                                     | Manipur                                 | 9,304                                   | 5,113                                   | 3,157                                   |

## Annexure-III

| 2 3   | Meghalaya     | 73,034       | 51,109       | 32,534       |
|-------|---------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|
| 2 4   | Mizoram       | 7,443        | 5,299        | 3,074        |
| 2 5   | Nagaland      | 5,010        | 3,644        | 2,693        |
| 2 6   | Odisha        | 23,17,5 88   | 18,44,4 63   | 13,88,2 22   |
| 2 7   | Puducherry    | 11,697       | 8,185        | 5,553        |
| 2 8   | Punjab        | 11,31,2 23   | 9,44,78 1    | 7,14,19 1    |
| 2 9   | Rajasthan     | 20,51,3 08   | 16,17,6 36   | 11,83,2 22   |
| 3 0   | Sikkim        | 766          | 561          | 178          |
| 3 1   | Tamil Nadu    | 7,36,29 5    | 5,96,45 5    | 4,26,81 9    |
| 3 2   | Telangana     | 5,46,31 5    | 4,25,58 3    | 2,99,16 5    |
| 3 3   | Tripura       | 1,41,16 5    | 92,820       | 69,240       |
| 3 4   | Uttarakhand   | 4,25,15 1    | 3,34,91 4    | 2,49,35 9    |
| 3 5   | Uttar Pradesh | 1,10,34, 403 | 93,00,4 09   | 67,55,8 34   |
| 3 6   | West Bengal   | 14,61,7 79   | 11,37,8 44   | 8,58,31 3    |
| 3 7   | Ladakh        | 1,641        | 1,094        | 799          |
| TOTAL | TOTAL         | 4,16,61, 579 | 3,40,20, 338 | 2,47,31, 689 |

*****