Bridging Digital Divide

• Digital divide = inequitable access to digital infrastructure, devices, connectivity, literacy, and content across urban/rural, gender, income, and regional lines.
• India's response is anchored in the Digital India programme (launched 1 July 2015) by MeitY, with three vision pillars: digital infrastructure as a utility, governance/services on demand, and digital empowerment of citizens.
• Bridging the divide is examinable across GS-II (governance, welfare schemes) and GS-III (IT, infrastructure, inclusive growth).