Digital India Programme Internet Users Growth Reaches 103 Crore

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Internet users in India increased from 25 crore in 2014 to about 103 crore in 2025.
India now has among the lowest mobile data tariffs globally.
Platforms like Aadhaar and UPI have strengthened the country’s digital public infrastructure.

New Delhi: The Digital India programme internet users growth has transformed India’s digital landscape over the past decade, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

Presenting data on the government’s digital initiatives, the minister said internet connectivity in India has expanded dramatically, with the number of users rising from 25 crore in 2014 to around 103 crore in 2025.

The figures, based on information from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, highlight the rapid expansion of digital connectivity across the country.

Rapid Expansion of Internet Connectivity

According to the government, the surge in internet usage is linked to major investments in telecom infrastructure.

The growth has been supported by:

Expansion of 4G and 5G mobile networks
Large scale rollout of optical fibre infrastructure
Increased investments in digital connectivity across rural and urban areas

The data suggests that improved network coverage has played a crucial role in narrowing the digital divide and bringing millions of people online.

India Among Countries With Lowest Data Tariffs

Vaishnaw said India now offers some of the lowest data prices in the world.

The average cost of 1 GB of mobile data in India ranges between $0.08 and $0.10, significantly lower than the global average of about $2.59.

What the market is missing is that affordable data pricing has been a major driver behind the rapid adoption of smartphones and digital services.

Lower costs have allowed millions of citizens to access online education, digital payments, government services and entertainment platforms.

Digital Public Infrastructure Strengthening Services

The government also highlighted the role of digital public infrastructure platforms in expanding digital inclusion.

Key systems include:

Aadhaar
Unified Payments Interface

More than 1.43 billion Aadhaar numbers have been issued, creating a universal digital identity framework for accessing financial services and welfare programmes.

Through Aadhaar linked Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) systems, benefits from 328 government schemes across 56 ministries are transferred directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts.

The system has recorded over 16,600 crore authentication transactions.

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Meanwhile, UPI has emerged as the world’s largest digital payments platform, connecting 685 banks, serving over 460 million users, and supporting 6.5 crore merchants.

According to the minister, the platform accounts for 81 percent of India’s digital payments and nearly 49 percent of global real time digital transactions.

Digital India Driving Inclusive Growth

The government said the Digital India programme follows a three pillar strategy:

Expanding internet connectivity
Ensuring affordable access to digital services
Building strong digital public infrastructure

The data suggests these initiatives have played a key role in enabling digital inclusion and supporting economic growth across sectors.

As India continues to expand its digital ecosystem, policymakers say the focus will remain on improving connectivity, strengthening digital services and ensuring that technology driven growth reaches citizens across the country.

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