Barriers to Digital Inclusion in Rural Northeast India: Challenges and Pathways for Inclusive Digital Transformation

Abstract

Digital inclusion has become an essential component of sustainable rural development, particularly in developing countries where digital technologies are increasingly integrated into governance, education, healthcare, finance, and entrepreneurship. Despite India's rapid progress in digital infrastructure and initiatives such as Digital India and Common Service Centers (CSCs), significant disparities persist across rural regions, especially in the North Eastern Region (NER). This study investigates the barriers to digital inclusion in rural Northeast India by examining infrastructural, socio-economic, educational, institutional, technological, and cultural constraints affecting rural populations. The study adopts a quantitative research design using structured questionnaires administered among beneficiaries of Common Service Centers across selected districts of Northeast India. Descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and multiple regression analysis were employed to identify the major determinants influencing digital inclusion. The findings reveal that inadequate internet connectivity, poor digital literacy, low educational attainment, affordability issues, unreliable electricity supply, language barriers, and limited institutional support significantly hinder digital inclusion. Digital literacy and infrastructural availability emerged as the strongest predictors of digital inclusion. The study recommends integrated policy interventions focusing on rural digital infrastructure, localized digital content, capacity building, affordable connectivity, and strengthening the role of CSCs in promoting inclusive digital transformation. The findings contribute to the literature on digital inclusion in geographically disadvantaged regions and provide practical implications for policymakers working toward achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).