Network Readiness Index

India has slipped two places to the 91st position on a global list of countries in terms of their readiness for transition to a digitised economy and society. The annual Networked Readiness Index was released by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF).

• 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.

Key facts:

• Among the major emerging markets, India is ranked the lowest with Russia retaining the top place at 41st rank, followed by China at 59th (up three places), South Africa up 10 places at the 65th spot and Brazil moving up to the 72nd position.
• The list is once again topped by Singapore while Finland has also retained its second place.
• Others in the top-ten are Sweden, Norway, the US, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the UK, Luxembourg and Japan.
• 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.
• While India has scored better in terms of political and regulatory environment (78th position), it fares worse in terms of business and innovation environment (110th).
• In terms of infrastructure it is even worse at 114th place, while it is ranked very high at 8th place in terms of affordability. India also fares poorly on sub-indices for skills and individual usage.
• According to the report, lack of infrastructure (114th) and low levels of skills among the population (101st) remain the key bottlenecks to widespread ICT adoption, especially in terms of individual usage (120th).
• The report further noted that a third of the Indian population is still illiterate and a similar share of youth is not enrolled in secondary education.
• 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).