**Executive Summary**
This report outlines the progress of the Digital India programme from its launch in July 2015 to March 2026. It highlights a decade of growth in digital infrastructure, affordability, and literacy, noting a 400% increase in broadband subscribers and a 97% reduction in data costs. Key milestones include the conclusion of the PMGDISHA literacy scheme on March 31, 2024, and the transition to near-universal mobile connectivity across Indian villages.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Connectivity and Infrastructure Growth**
* **Broadband Expansion:** Subscribers increased from 25 crore in 2014-15 to 103 crore in 2024-25.
* **Mobile Network:** The number of Mobile Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) grew by 273%, reaching 29.50 lakh.
* **Village Connectivity:** Mobile coverage (2G/3G/4G) now reaches 6.35 lakh villages, achieving near-universal coverage.
* **Optical Fiber:** Total optical fiber laid increased by approximately 1,935 times, totaling 6,92,676 kms.
**Data Consumption and Affordability**
* **Cost Reduction:** The cost of data per GB fell from Rs 269 to approximately Rs 7.9, a 97% decrease.
* **Usage Surge:** Average monthly data consumption per subscriber rose from 61.66 MB to approximately 25.25 GB.
**Digital Public Infrastructure and Payments**
* **Digital Identity:** Over 143 crore Aadhaar numbers have been issued to residents.
* **UPI Success:** The Unified Payment Interface (UPI) now has over 46 crore users and 685 banks, accounting for 49% of global real-time digital payments.
* **Direct Benefit Transfer:** Using the Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile (JAM) Trinity, the government transferred Rs. 49.82 lakh crore in subsidies directly to citizens.
**Citizen Services and Literacy**
* **DigiLocker:** Supports 67 crore registered users and has issued over 967 crore digital documents, eliminating the need for physical copies.
* **UMANG:** A unified interface offering over 2,446 government services, recording more than 741 crore transactions.
* **PMGDISHA:** This digital literacy scheme trained 6.39 crore persons by its conclusion in March 2024, exceeding its initial target of 6 crore.
**Impact Analysis**
**Indian Residents / Citizens**
**Impact**
Residents benefit from significantly lower internet costs, increased digital literacy, and the ability to receive government subsidies directly into their accounts without intermediaries.
**Action Required**
Citizens can continue to utilize UMANG for government services and DigiLocker for seamless, paperless document verification.
**Government Authorities and Original Issuers**
**Impact**
Authorities can perform seamless verification of authentic digital documents through DigiLocker, reducing administrative overhead and physical paperwork.
**Action Required**
Departments must continue to integrate their services with the UMANG platform and issue documents via DigiLocker to maintain service efficiency.
**Financial Institutions and Banks**
**Impact**
Banks are integrated into a global-leading real-time payment ecosystem (UPI) that handles the vast majority of India's digital transactions.
**Action Required**
The 685 participating banks must maintain the infrastructure required to support the high volume of real-time UPI transactions and JAM-based transfers.
Key Entities Referenced
Digital India programme: The central government initiative launched in 2015 to democratize technology, bridge the digital divide, and provide digital public infrastructure across India.
JAM Trinity: The integration of Jan Dhan accounts, Aadhaar, and Mobile numbers used to facilitate direct benefit transfers and subsidies to citizens.
Unified Payment Interface (UPI): India's real-time digital payment system that powers the majority of the country's digital and global real-time payments.
DigiLocker: A digital platform for citizens to access, store, and share authentic documents electronically for seamless verification by authorities.
Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA): A digital literacy scheme launched in 2017 focused on training rural citizens to navigate digital platforms and services.
Ministry of Electronics & IT
Digital India program has enabled wider access
to digital services and opportunities
400% increase in broadband subscribers over a decade
Posted On: 18 MAR 2026 4:04PM by PIB Delhi
In line with Hon’ble Prime Minister's vision to democratize technology and empower citizens, the
Government of India launched the Digital India programme in July 2015.
Through this programme, Government has bridged the digital divide using pronged strategy:
Increasing access to internet,
Making internet affordable,
Providing digital public infrastructure,
Enhancing the digital literacy
These efforts have collectively enabled wider access to digital services and opportunities, thereby fostering
inclusive and equitable digital growth across the country. It can be seen from the following statistics:
# 2014-15 2024-25 Remarks
Total broadband subscribers 25 Cr 103 Cr 400% increase in subscribers
Total numbers of Mobile Base 7.9 Lakh 29.50 lakh Increase of about 273%
Transceiver Stations (BTS)
villages covered with mobile ~ 5.27 6.35 lakh Increase of about 20.5% (near-
connectivity (2G/3G/4G) lakh universal coverage)
Total optical fiber laid 358 kms 6,92,676 OFC laid increased by about 1,935
Kms times
Average monthly data consumption per 61.66 ~ 25.25 GB Data consumption increased by ~
subscriber MB 419 times
Cost of data per Gb Rs 269 ~ Rs 7.9 97% reduction in cost
Digital India program has brought fundamental change in the people’s lives:More than 143 Cr Aadhar numbers have been issued providing digital identity to Indian residents.
Aadhar was critical in developing the unified payment interface system. India's UPI is now the world's
largest digital payment system with more than 46 Cr users and 685 banks. UPI powers 81% of India’s
digital payments and nearly 49% of global real-time digital payments.
Using Jan Dhan, Aadhar and Mobile (JAM) Trinity, subsidies and benefits worth Rs. 49.82 lakh crore
have been transferred directly to the citizens.
Specific details of PMGDISHA, DigiLocker and UMANG:
DigiLocker: DigiLocker enables citizens to access and share digitally issued documents anytime and
anywhere, eliminating the need to carry physical copies and facilitating seamless verification by
authorities.
DigiLocker has provided digital access to authentic digital documents from original issuer for the common
citizen. Currently, 67 crore users are registered on the platform. More than 967 crore documents have been
issued using DigiLocker.
UMANG: provides a single unified interface to access multiple Government services, enabling citizens to
avail services from their homes, thereby saving time and travel costs.
UMANG mobile application for all government services is operational and offers more than 2,446
services. It has more than 10.51 Cr registered users and more than 741 crore transactions have been carried
out so far.
PMGDISHA: Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) was launched in 2017 to
ensure digital literacy. The scheme concluded on 31st March 2024. The scheme was one of the world’s
largest digital literacy initiatives. Against the target of training 6 Cr people, more than 6.39 Crore persons
were trained nationwide.
This information was submitted by Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology
Shri Jitin Prasada in Lok Sabha on 18.03.2026.
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