Like many other segments, India is still witnessing serious gender issues pertaining to internet and usage of digital technology. A data collected by the fifth National Family Health Survey (NFHS) states that on an average, less than three out of 10 women in rural India and four out of 10 women in urban India have ever used the Internet. The NFHS-5 in 2019, for the first time sought details on two specific indicators: Percentage of women and men who have ever used the Internet. It usually collects data on key indicators on population health, family planning and nutrition. The survey further reveals -

Only an average of 42.6 percent of women ever used the Internet as against an average of 62.16 percent among the men. In urban India, an average 56.81 percent women ever used the Internet compared to an average 73.76 percent among the men. A dismal 33.94 percent women in rural India ever used the Internet as against 55.6 percent among men. The data from the 22 states and union territories was collected from 3.07 lakh households.

In urban India, 10 states and three union territories reported more than 50 percent women who had ever used the Internet: Goa (78.1 percent), Himachal Pradesh (78.9 percent), Kerala (64.9 percent), Maharashtra (54.3 percent), Manipur (50.8 percent), Meghalaya (57.8 percent), Mizoram (83.8 percent), Nagaland (66.5

The data from the 22 states and union territories was collected from 3.07 lakh households

percent), Sikkim (90 percent), J&K (55 percent), Ladakh (66.5 percent), and Lakshwadeep (61.80 percent).

The five states reporting the lowest percentage of women, who ever used the Internet in urban India were Andhra Pradesh (33.9 percent), Bihar (38.4 percent), Tripura (36.6 percent), Telangana (43.9 percent) and Gujarat (48.9 percent).

The percentage of women, who ever used the Internet, significantly dropped in rural India. The five states reporting the lowest percentage of women, who ever used the Internet in rural India, were: West Bengal (14 percent), Andhra Pradesh (15.4 percent), Telangana (15.8 percent), Tripura (17.7 percent) and Bihar (17 percent).

The worst-performing states in urban India for men were Bihar (58.4 percent), Meghalaya (59.2 percent), West Bengal (64.6 percent), Andhra Pradesh (65.1 percent) and Assam (67.4 percent).

In rural India, only eight states reported more than 50 percent men, who had ever used the Internet: Goa (76.6 percent), Himachal Pradesh (65.1 percent), Karnataka (55.6 percent), Kerala (74.2 percent), Manipur (68.2 percent), Mizoram (63.9 percent), Nagaland (55.2 percent) and Sikkim (69.5 percent).

The five worst-performing states in urban India for men were Assam (37.8 percent), West Bengal (38.3 percent), Meghalaya (38.5 percent), Bihar (39.4 percent) and Andhra Pradesh (41.5 percent).