India has slipped two places to 91st position on a global list of countries in terms of their readiness for transition to a digitized economy and society, while Singapore remains on top.
- The annual Networked Readiness Index (NRI) released by Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF).
- The 2016 Networked Readiness Index (NRI) is topped by Singapore while Finland has also retained its 2nd Others in the top-ten are Sweden (3rd), Norway (4th), United States (5th), Netherlands (6th), Switzerland (7th), UK (8th), Luxembourg (9th) and Japan (10th).
- India’s position on the list has come down for the fourth year in a row, from 89th in 2015, 83rd in 2014 and 68th in 2013.
- Among BRICS nation, Russia (41st), China (59th), South Africa (65th) and Brazil (72nd) Among the major emerging markets, India is ranked the lowest (91th ).
- The index, forming part of the WEF’s Global Information Technology Report, measures countries’ success in creating the conditions necessary for a transition to a digitised economy and society.
In 2015, India launched the Digital India programme, which aims to close this gap by fostering investment in digital infrastructure, improving digital literacy, and increasingly providing online services to citizens. India’s performance in terms of providing online services and allowing e-participation has so far been in line with that of peer countries, but far from the global best (57th and 40th, respectively).
