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As of the second quarter of 2025, watching videos, TV shows, or movies was the leading reason for using the internet in India, cited by ** percent of internet users. Staying in touch with friends and family ranked second, at **** percent. During the surveyed period, Indian internet users spent over **hours per week online.

Expanding digital landscape

India's internet user base has grown significantly and is expected to reach over *** billion by 2050. This expansion is driven by increased mobile connectivity, with smartphone users nearly matching the total number of internet users. Affordable mobile data and the utility of smartphones have contributed to India's mobile-centric internet access. However, internet penetration varies widely across regions, with Delhi leading at ** percent and Odisha lagging behind.

Challenges ahead

Despite the large user base, India faces challenges in ensuring equitable internet access. Gender disparities persist, particularly in rural areas, and older adults have lower usage rates due to literacy and technological barriers. India's internet freedom score of ** out of 100 in 2024 indicates a “partly free” status, reflecting government-imposed restrictions and censorship. However, the average monthly data consumption reached **** gigabytes per user in 2023, driven by online education, remote work, and increased streaming content consumption.