Daily News Analysis

Network Readiness Index (NRI) 2024: India's Rise

stylish_lining

Network Readiness Index (NRI) 2024: India's Rise

Context:
India has made significant progress in the
Network Readiness Index (NRI) 2024, climbing 11 positions to secure the 49th rank globally, up from 60th in 2023. This improvement reflects India's efforts to bolster its digital infrastructure and technological capabilities, marking a strong performance across various digital metrics and innovations.

About NRI 2024:

The Network Readiness Index (NRI) is published by the Portulans Institute, and it evaluates 133 economies using 54 variables spread across four key pillars:

  1. Technology

  2. People

  3. Governance

  4. Impact

These pillars assess how well nations are prepared for the digital age in terms of infrastructure, human capital, policy frameworks, and the broader societal impact of digital advancements.

India's Achievements in NRI 2024:

India has made remarkable strides in the digital and technological domains. Its NRI score improved from 49.93 in 2023 to 53.63 in 2024, signaling substantial growth.

Here are some of India’s top global rankings across various sectors:

  1. 1st Rank Globally:

    • AI Scientific Publications

    • AI Talent Concentration

    • ICT Services Exports

  2. 2nd Rank Globally:

    • Fiber to the Premises (FTTH) Internet Subscriptions

    • Mobile Broadband Traffic

    • International Internet Bandwidth

  3. 3rd Rank Globally:

    • Domestic Market Scale

  4. 4th Rank Globally:

    • Annual Telecom Investments

These achievements highlight India's leadership in the areas of Artificial Intelligence, ICT services, and telecom infrastructure, underscoring its growing role in the global digital landscape.

Telecom Sector Advancements:

India's telecom sector has experienced significant growth, playing a pivotal role in improving its NRI ranking. Key statistics include:

  • Tele-density: 84.69%

  • Wireless Connections: 119 crore

  • Internet Subscribers: Increased from 25.1 crore to 94.4 crore

The launch of 5G services in 2022 has further enhanced the country’s mobile broadband capabilities, boosting India’s ranking from 118th to 15th globally in terms of mobile broadband speed. Additionally, India’s vision for Bharat 6G is positioning the country as a future leader in telecommunications.

Key Takeaways:

  • India's NRI improvement signals a concerted push towards digital transformation.

  • AI, telecom, and ICT sectors have been significant drivers of this rise.

  • The Bharat 6G Vision and 5G rollout place India on track to becoming a global leader in telecommunications and digital infrastructure.

India’s progress in the Network Readiness Index 2024 reflects its commitment to fostering a robust digital economy and becoming a major player in the global digital landscape.


 


 

Maharashtra Scraps Hindi as Compulsory Third Language

The Maharashtra government recently scrapped its Government Resolutions (GRs) that mandated Hindi as a compulsory third language from Grades 1 to 5 in Marathi and English medium schools. While the
Share It

River Pollution in India

The Delhi government's focus on cleaning up the Yamuna River is part of a larger national effort to rejuvenate the Ganga River and its tributaries, in alignment with the Namami Gange Programme
Share It

Infrastructure Failures

The recent collapse of the Mahisagar River Bridge in Vadodara, which tragically claimed the lives of 20 people, underscores the growing concern over India's infrastructure quality. Similar
Share It

Special Intensive Revision (SIR)

The Supreme Court (SC) is currently reviewing the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) process for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, suggesting that Aadhaar,
Share It

GM Crop

In ongoing trade talks, the United States is advocating for India to open its agriculture market to genetically modified (GM) crops. However, India has firmly rejected this proposal, citing concer
Share It

India-Brazil Relations

India and Brazil share a growing and dynamic bilateral relationship that has evolved across various sectors since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1948. Their Strategic Partnership, formali
Share It

Legislative Productivity

The Lok Sabha Speaker’s remarks about the need to enhance legislative productivity reflect growing concerns about the diminishing effectiveness of India’s legislative bodies. The chall
Share It

Economic Growth

India's rapid urbanization is set to dramatically shape its future. The transformation of its cities holds immense potential for economic growth, but it also brings significant challenges. As
Share It

Global South

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Brazil from July 2-9, 2025, for the BRICS summit, was not only his longest international visit in 11 years but also marked a significant diplomatic outr
Share It

Maharashtra’s Special Public Security Bill, 2024

The Maharashtra Assembly has recently passed the Special Public Security Bill, 2024, aimed at combating “urban Maoism” and left-wing extremism in the state. The Bill criminalizes activ
Share It

Newsletter Subscription


ACQ IAS
ACQ IAS