India’s Technology Transformation

 

1. The Digital India Programme, launched in 2015, laid the foundation for India’s emerging technology ecosystem by expanding digital infrastructure and connectivity.

2. Optical fibre coverage increased from 19.35 lakh route kilometres in 2019 to 42.36 lakh route kilometres in 2025.

3. Internet connections in India grew from 25.15 crore in 2014 to 102.86 crore in 2026.

4. Broadband connections increased from 6.1 crore in 2014 to 99.56 crore by December 2025.

5. Average monthly data consumption rose from 61.66 MB in 2014 to 24.01 GB in December 2025.

6. Data cost declined from ₹269 per GB to around ₹8–10 per GB, making internet access more affordable.

7. The National Supercomputing Mission (NSM), launched in 2015 with an outlay of ₹4,500 crore, deployed 38 supercomputers with a combined capacity of 47 petaflops.

8. The Semicon India Programme was launched in December 2021 with an outlay of ₹76,000 crore to promote semiconductor manufacturing, chip design, packaging, testing, and research.

9. As of June 2026, 12 semiconductor projects worth around ₹1.64 lakh crore had been approved under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM).

10. The National Quantum Mission was approved in April 2023 with an outlay of ₹6,003.65 crore.

11. India demonstrated a 1,000-kilometre secure quantum communication network and laid the foundation stone for its first Quantum Valley in Amaravati in February 2026.

12. The IndiaAI Mission was approved in 2024 with an outlay of over ₹10,300 crore to support indigenous Artificial Intelligence (AI) infrastructure, research, startups, skilling, and responsible AI development.

13. The government cloud platform MeghRaj was launched in 2014, and its adoption increased from 342 government departments to 2,323 departments by June 2026.

14. The National Blockchain Framework was initiated in 2021 with an outlay of ₹64.76 crore to promote secure blockchain applications for governance and digital services.

15. India’s rank in the Global Innovation Index improved from 81st in 2015 to 38th in 2025.

Must Know Terms :

1. Digital India Programme: Launched in 2015, it created the base for India’s digital infrastructure. Internet connections increased from 25.15 crore in 2014 to 102.86 crore in 2026, while broadband connections reached 99.56 crore by December 2025.

 

2. National Supercomputing Mission (NSM): Launched in 2015 with an outlay of ₹4,500 crore. Under this mission, 38 supercomputers with a combined capacity of 47 petaflops have been deployed across leading institutions.

 

3. Semicon India Programme: Launched in December 2021 with an outlay of ₹76,000 crore. It focuses on semiconductor manufacturing, chip design, packaging, testing, talent development, and research.

4. National Quantum Mission: Approved in April 2023 with an outlay of ₹6,003.65 crore. It focuses on Quantum Computing, Quantum Communication, Quantum Sensing and Metrology, and Quantum Materials and Devices.

 

5. IndiaAI Mission: Approved in 2024 with an outlay of over ₹10,300 crore. It supports indigenous Artificial Intelligence (AI) infrastructure, research, startups, skilling, and responsible AI development.

 

6.National Blockchain Framework: Initiated in 2021 with an outlay of ₹64.76 crore. It promotes secure, scalable, and interoperable blockchain applications for governance and digital public services.

 

 

MCQ :

1. With reference to the Digital India Programme, consider the following statements:

1. It was launched in 2015.
2. It laid the foundation for India’s emerging technology ecosystem by strengthening digital infrastructure.
3. It directly launched the National Quantum Mission.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

2. Which of the following best describes the trend in optical fibre coverage in India?

A. Increased from 19.35 lakh route km in 2019 to 42.36 lakh route km in 2025
B. Increased from 42.36 lakh route km in 2019 to 61.35 lakh route km in 2025
C. Declined from 42.36 lakh route km in 2019 to 19.35 lakh route km in 2025
D. Remained unchanged between 2019 and 2025

3. With reference to India’s internet ecosystem, consider the following statements:

1. Internet connections exceeded 100 crore by 2026.
2. Broadband connections reached nearly 100 crore by December 2025.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2

4. Which one of the following correctly describes the change in average monthly data consumption in India?

A. 61.66 MB to 2.4 GB
B. 61.66 MB to 24.01 GB
C. 6.1 GB to 24.01 GB
D. 269 MB to 24.01 GB

5. The National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) was launched in:

A. 2014 with an outlay of ₹7,600 crore
B. 2015 with an outlay of ₹4,500 crore
C. 2021 with an outlay of ₹4,500 crore
D. 2023 with an outlay of ₹6,003.65 crore

6. With reference to the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM), consider the following statements:

1. It has deployed 38 supercomputers.
2. Their combined computing power is 47 petaflops.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2

7. The Semicon India Programme, launched in December 2021, has an outlay of:

A. ₹10,300 crore
B. ₹64.76 crore
C. ₹4,500 crore
D. ₹76,000 crore

8. As of June 2026, how many projects had been approved under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM)?

A. 8
B. 10
C. 12
D. 15

9. With reference to the National Quantum Mission, consider the following statements:

1. It was approved in April 2023.
2. It has an outlay of ₹6,003.65 crore.
3. It focuses on Quantum Computing and Quantum Communication.

How many of the above statements are correct?

A. Only one
B. Only two
C. All three
D. None

10. India’s first Quantum Valley, whose foundation stone was laid in February 2026, is located at:

A. Bengaluru
B. Hyderabad
C. Amaravati
D. Pune

11. The IndiaAI Mission was approved in:

A. 2021
B. 2022
C. 2023
D. 2024

12. With reference to the IndiaAI Mission, consider the following statements:

1. It supports indigenous Artificial Intelligence infrastructure.
2. It promotes AI research and startup development.
3. It encourages responsible AI development.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

13. The government cloud platform MeghRaj was launched in:

A. 2012
B. 2014
C. 2016
D. 2018

14. With reference to the National Blockchain Framework, consider the following statements:

1. It was initiated in 2021.
2. It has an outlay of ₹64.76 crore.
3. It promotes secure blockchain applications for governance and digital services.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

15. India’s rank in the Global Innovation Index improved from 81st in 2015 to:

A. 48th in 2025
B. 42nd in 2025
C. 38th in 2025
D. 28th in 2025