Daily Mains Question - 12th June 2025
- TPP
- Jun 12
- 3 min read
Welcome to your daily Mains Model Answer — designed to bridge the gap between current affairs and conceptual clarity, just the way UPSC tests in GS Papers. Today’s answer focuses on India’s evolving digital public infrastructure and its implications for inclusive education — a theme at the crossroads of technology, governance, and social justice.
With rapid advancements in digital connectivity and increasing smartphone penetration, UPSC may frame questions exploring both the opportunities and the digital divide, especially in light of recent ASER 2023 findings. Use this to enrich your preparation for GS Paper II (Governance and Social Justice) and GS Paper III (Science and Technology).
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Q. India’s evolving digital infrastructure has played a key role in promoting inclusive education. Critically discuss the opportunities and challenges this transformation presents.
(15 Marks, 250 Words)
Answer: India’s digital revolution, fuelled by Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) like the India Stack, has enabled the seamless delivery of identity, financial, and data services, marking a transformative shift in public service delivery. This evolution has created new opportunities for inclusive education, particularly for youth from marginalized and rural backgrounds.
At the same time, persistent digital divides, especially across gender and socio-economic lines, pose significant challenges to realizing the full potential of this transformation.
Opportunities Offered by Digital Infrastructure in Education:
1. Widespread Smartphone Access:
As per ASER 2023, 89% of youth aged 14–18 have smartphones at home and 92% reported knowing how to use one.
This increasing access creates potential for tech-based learning, e-content delivery, and AI-driven tutoring systems.
2. Enhanced Aspirations and Access:
Girls now express greater aspiration toward higher education:
44.3% of girls aspired to undergraduate courses vs 41.2% of boys.
7.4% females were already enrolled in undergraduate programs compared to 6.8% males.
The school dropout gender gap has significantly reduced — from 4.1 percentage points (2017) to just 0.2 percentage points (2023).
3. Functional Literacy & Early Learning:
Girls performed better than boys in basic reading (Class II level):
76% girls vs 70.9% boys.
This indicates foundational learning gains, especially in rural and underprivileged areas.
4. Digital Public Infrastructure as an Equalizer:
India Stack (Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker, etc.) supports:
Efficient service delivery in education, scholarships, admissions.
Inclusive access to learning resources for underserved groups.
Challenges Hindering Inclusive Digital Education:
1. Persistent Gendered Digital Divide:
Though access exists, ownership and usage patterns are unequal:
Boys were twice as likely to own smartphones.
38% males vs 19% females used smartphones for online services.
69% males used phones for entertainment vs 46% females.
2. Limited Digital Literacy & Practical Skills:
Functional digital capabilities are limited among girls:
Only 25% females could use maps/navigation apps compared to 49% males.
51% boys vs 41.1% girls could tell time.
Gap in math-related tasks like measuring length: 88% boys vs 82% girls.
3. Cultural and Mobility Constraints:
Girls’ access to devices is often supervised or controlled by families.
Gendered restrictions affect mobility and exposure:
Girls seldom travel independently or make travel/logistics plans.
Digital tools like ticket booking apps remain underutilized by young women.
4. Socio-cultural Barriers to Career Goals:
Girls often lack agency in education and career decisions:
Example from Sitapur: a Class 12 girl defers to family for decisions on higher education and marriage.
Career aspirations materialize only when role models exist in the local context, e.g., Solan vs Dhamtari.
5. Digital Infrastructure Gaps in Remote Areas:
Despite smartphone availability, quality of access, internet speed, electricity, and device sharing still limit consistent learning, especially in low-income rural households.
India’s digital infrastructure has laid the foundation for a more inclusive educational future, with promising results in enrollment, aspiration, and foundational learning. However, true inclusivity requires going beyond access — addressing issues of gender bias, digital literacy, mobility, and socio-economic disparities.
To harness this potential:
Targeted interventions are needed to close the gendered digital divide.
Invest in local role models, safe access environments, and gender-sensitive tech literacy programs.
Only through a holistic approach combining technology with social empowerment can India achieve the full promise of inclusive digital education.
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