The cost of 1 GB of data plunged by 97% to around Rs 8-10 from Rs 269 in 2014, which led to an increase in internet usage in rural areas and opened a new world of opportunities for the people, an official document on 12 years of the Modi government said on Wednesday.
The country, in the last 12 years, has seen around a four-fold surge in internet users to 103 crore up to December 2025 from around 25 crore subscribers in 2014. Meanwhile, broadband connections have jumped by about 17 times to nearly 100 crore from six crore during the same period.
"Around 97% reduction in per GB data cost between 2014 and 2026. In 2014, the cost of 1 GB data was Rs 269, now reduced to Rs 8-10. Internet consumption increased in rural areas as compared to cities. Opened a new world of information, resources and opportunities," the document said.
It added that 103 crore internet connections in the country indicate good digital reach and affordable internet service.
The rise in data usage in the country has fuelled the growth of the digital economy in the form of e-commerce and online services, which in turn has contributed to employment generation and GDP growth, the document mentioned.
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According to the report titled ‘Estimation and Measurement of India's Digital Economy' by the Ministry of Electronics and IT, India's digital economy was estimated at 11.74 per cent of the national income in 2022-23 and in absolute numbers, it was equivalent to Rs 31.64 lakh crore ( around USD 402 billion).
Based on the projections in the report, India's digital economy is expected to grow almost twice as fast as the overall economy, contributing to nearly one-fifth of national income by 2030.
The country has taken strides in technologies supporting digital transformation, from indigenously developed 5G telecom gears to chips that are vital for the functioning of high-tech products and equipment.
In the semiconductor manufacturing space, there were no chip plants in 2014, whereas 12 plants have been approved under the Modi government.
India has also transformed from being an importer of mobile phones to a leading exporter.
The export of mobile phones from the country has shot up by about 163 times to Rs 2.6 lakh crore from Rs 0.016 lakh crore under the Modi government.
The number of manufacturing units in the mobile devices segment has jumped to over 300 units now from just 2 units in 2014, the document said.
Aadhaar card generation has crossed the 144 crore mark from only 61.01 crore in 2014, the document said.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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