Executive Summary:
This document presents the Ministry of Communication's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1661, answered on July 30, 2025, regarding internet penetration and its impact on digital payments in India. It provides details on internet subscribers, both nationally and state/UT-wise, as of March 31, 2025, and outlines government initiatives to improve digital access in rural areas. The document highlights the growth in digital payment transactions and the measures being taken to expand internet facilities.
Key Points / Main Content:
Internet Penetration:
* As of March 31, 2025, India has 969.10 million internet subscribers, including 407.69 million in rural areas.
* State/UT-wise details of internet subscribers are provided in Annexure A.
Digital Payments:
* Digital payment transactions have increased from 2071 crore in FY 2017-18 to 22,831 crore in FY 2024-25, showing a CAGR of 41%.
Government Initiatives:
* The Government is implementing schemes under the Digital Bharat Nidhi to install 4G mobile towers in rural and remote areas through the 4G saturation project.
* The Amended BharatNet Program aims to provide broadband connectivity, including WiFi Hotspots and Fibre to the Home (FTTH) connections, to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) and villages on demand.
Impact Analysis:
Government of India (Ministry of Communications):
* Impact: Responsible for monitoring and implementing schemes to improve internet access and digital payment infrastructure.
* Action Required: Continue implementing and overseeing the Digital Bharat Nidhi and Amended BharatNet Program.
Rural Population:
* Impact: Will benefit from improved internet access through 4G mobile towers, WiFi Hotspots and FTTH connections.
* Action Required: Utilize the improved internet infrastructure for digital payments and other online services.
Digital Payment Service Providers:
* Impact: Increased potential user base due to improved internet penetration in rural areas.
* Action Required: Expand services and infrastructure to cater to the growing demand for digital payments in rural areas.
Gram Panchayats and Villages:
* Impact: Will receive broadband connectivity and infrastructure to facilitate digital inclusion.
* Action Required: Coordinate with the government and service providers for the installation and maintenance of internet infrastructure.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Communications: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for telecommunications and postal services.
Department of Telecommunications: A department under the Ministry of Communications responsible for telecom policy, licensing, and regulation.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
SHRI RAJESH NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA: Member of Parliament who raised the question in Lok Sabha.
DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR: Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development who answered the question.
Digital Bharat Nidhi: A government fund or initiative aimed at expanding internet facilities in rural areas.
Amended BharatNet Program: A government program aimed at providing broadband connectivity to Gram Panchayats and villages.
Andhra Pradesh: A state in India, specifically mentioned in the context of internet subscribers.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1661
ANSWERED ON 30TH JULY, 2025
LACK OF ACCESS TO INTERNET HAMPERED DIGITAL PAYMENTS
1661. SHRI RAJESH NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:
(a) the details of internet penetration in the country, State/UT-wise;
(b) the details of internet penetration in the rural areas, State/UT-wise;
(c) whether lack of access to internet has hampered digital payments in many areas and if so,
the details thereof and the action taken by the Government thereon; and
(d) the steps taken by the Government during the last five years to improve the quality of digital
access in rural India?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) & (b) As of 31st March, 2025, there are 969.10 million internet subscribers in the country
which includes 407.69 million internet subscribers in the rural area of the country. The State/UT wise
details are at Annexure-A.
(c) The total volume of digital payment transactions in the country has increased from 2071 crore
in FY 2017-18 to 22,831 crore in FY 2024-25, growing at a CAGR of 41%.
(d) The Government is implementing various schemes under Digital Bharat Nidhi for expansion
of internet facilities through installation of 4G mobile towers in the rural and remote areas of the
country under 4G saturation project. In addition, Amended BharatNet Program aims to provide
broadband connectivity such as Wi-Fi Hotspots, Fibre to the Home (FTTH) connections etc. to all
the Gram Panchayats (GPs) and villages on demand basis.
1Annexure-A
Annexure-A referred to in Part (a) & (b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1661 for
answer on 30.07.2025
State/UT wise number of Internet Subscribers per 100 population at the end of Mar-25
Total Subscribers (in
S.No. State(s) million)
Rural Urban Total
1 Andhra Pradesh 17.98 18.49 36.47
2 Arunachal Pradesh 0.54 0.39 0.93
3 Assam 13.38 6.95 20.33
4 Bihar 37.57 16.80 54.37
5 Chhattisgarh 8.55 8.96 17.51
6 Goa 0.63 1.78 2.41
7 Gujarat 19.18 36.67 55.86
8 Haryana 10.11 20.02 30.14
9 Himachal Pradesh 4 2.67 6.67
10 Jharkhand 10.94 8.43 19.37
11 Karnataka 21.47 38.83 60.30
12 Kerala 18.22 17.84 36.06
13 Madhya Pradesh 21.13 28.36 49.50
14 Maharashtra 32.84 76.62 109.46
15 Manipur 0.98 1.32 2.30
16 Meghalaya 1.34 0.75 2.08
17 Mizoram 0.54 0.70 1.24
18 Nagaland 0.98 0.68 1.66
19 Odisha 17.10 8.78 25.89
20 Punjab 9.60 17.59 27.19
21 Rajasthan 26.07 25.97 52.04
22 Sikkim 0.37 0.27 0.64
23 Tamil Nadu 18.01 45.47 63.48
24 Telangana 13.08 23.11 36.19
25 Tripura 1.07 1.13 2.19
26 Uttar Pradesh 65.41 65.72 131.14
27 Uttarakhand 4.81 5.05 9.86
28 West Bengal 25.61 38.13 63.75
Union Territories
29 Andaman and Nicobar Islands 0.23 0.21 0.43
30 Chandigarh 0.03 1.36 1.39
31 Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu 0.30 0.55 0.84
32 Delhi 0.31 35.56 35.88
33 Jammu and Kashmir 4.58 5.34 9.92
34 Ladakh 0.32 0.11 0.43
35 Lakshadweep 0.05 0.004 0.05
36 Puducherry 0.36 0.79 1.15
Total 407.69 561.42 969.10
*****
2