Digital geography-rural literacy and internet usage among rural men and women in india via national family health survey-5 (2019–2021)

Abstract

NFHS-5 survey for the first time includes the study of internet usage in India. Since the digital has altered all possible ways of human life with the internet as its fulcrum, its analysis in various forms is contemporary and relevant. But, geographical studies are less observed and studies on rural areas are further limited in nature. The current attempt is an analysis of the geographic distribution of internet services usage in India on the basis of gender and literacy in the rural scenario. It further diversifies theanalysis in these units through the Empowered Action Group (EAG) states and Non Empowered Action Group (Non-EAG) states and Union Territories classification of the Census of India. An all-India examination is insightful in examining the trends in digital geographies in the rural landscape of the country. The 2019–21 period of National Family Health Survey-5(NFHS-5) data makes the study contemporary as well as relevant.