India is fast moving towards the digital age, but the digital reach of women is still limited. The ‘Comprehensive Modular Survey: Telecom’, conducted between January and March 2025, revealed that 32% of women of the country still do not keep their own mobile phones, but are dependent on others’ mobiles. This figure not only highlights the inequality of technological development, but also raises questions on women’s privacy and digital freedom.

Women behind men in keeping mobiles

According to the survey, the percentage of mobile use in women aged 15 and above in the country is 79.8%, but a large number of women do not keep their own mobile phones. At the same time, this figure is much higher in rural men. 81.2% of young rural men aged 15-29 are mobile owners, while in women of the same age this figure is just 56.9%.

Women user less in digital payment

Talking about online transactions, 75.9% of people in men make digital payments, while women stay at 50.4%. The increasing reach of Kovid-19 epidemic and UPI has increased rural women towards online transactions, but in rural areas only 30% of women are able to pay digital payments. In urban women this number is 51% and 54% in rural men.

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State wise situation worrying

This difference is even more clear in some states.

• In West Bengal, 80% of women use mobiles, but 43% have their own mobile.
• Use 85% in Madhya Pradesh, but its own phone is with only 43%.
• In Uttar Pradesh and Assam, this difference is 75% vs. 32%, and 67% vs 43% respectively.

At the same time, in states like Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala and Goa, the percentage of women having their own mobile phones is relatively better.

Important question

While talking about Digital India, the question arises that when a big female population of the country is not even a owner even today, how will digital equality be possible?