Bihar's rural women excel in digital literacy, outperforms national average

The rapid penetration of internet services and smartphones in rural Bihar has led to a significant increase in digital literacy, with many metrics surpassing the national average. A recent report by the National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) attributes this growth to technological advancements in the banking sector and the availability of user-friendly digital platforms.

One of the key findings of the report is the high engagement of rural youth in internet usage and online banking. Bihar's rural population aged 15 to 24 years has an internet search proficiency average of 24.3%, compared to the national average of 21%. Similarly, rural youth aged 15 to 29 years have an average proficiency of 24.1%, 2.1 points higher than the national figure of 22%.

The report highlights the exceptional digital skills of rural girls and women in Bihar. Among 15-year-old rural girls, 51.4% are proficient in internet usage, compared to the national average. In email operations, 29.5% are skilled, with rural girls’ proficiency in these areas reaching 63.6% for internet use and 40.7% for emails. Young women aged 15 to 29 years in Bihar also demonstrate strong digital skills, with 60.7% proficient in internet operations, surpassing the national average of 54.8%.

While Bihar’s youth are catching up in online banking, there is still room for growth. Among teenagers aged 15, 33.3% are proficient in online banking, slightly below the national average of 37.8%. In the 15 to 29 age group, 34.4% of youth in Bihar are skilled in online banking, compared to the national figure of 40.6%.

The gender gap persists in online banking skills. For 15-year-olds, the national average is 47.1% for men and 25.2% for women, while Bihar records 42.9% for men and 18.1% for women. Among the 15 to 29 age group, Bihar’s men score 45.3% compared to the national average of 50.5%, while women score 18.9% compared to the national average of 28.5%.

The growing digital proficiency in rural Bihar, particularly among women and young people, underscores the transformative potential of technology in bridging regional and gender divides. However, further efforts are required to address disparities and ensure inclusive digital literacy.