Internet usage has been increasing in a rapid manner by the users of India. The pricing range of smartphones have diminished and it has become much easy to buy a low-end mobile phone at a less price. With the rapid growth in the advanced technology, people are moving towards it to lead a luxurious life with everything getting done within no time. Eventually, internet usage has increased especially by the people of India. Union Minister of Communications and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad on Sunday said the number of internet users in India is expected to reach 50 crore mark by next year.

Addressing the members of the Indore Management Association (IMA), Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “The number of people using Internet has crossed 40 crores in the country at present. I am expecting this number to go up to 50 crores in next 5-8 months. According to our estimate, out of these, 70% people are going to access the Internet through mobile phones.”

At the function, he also mentioned about the mobile phone users who make use of Internet via smartphones have been increasing. He said that currently, we have about 100 crore mobile phone users in India out of which almost 40 crores are internet users. Every year the number is increasing and we are looking at a target of 50 crore internet users by 2017.

Prasad also added, “Make in India is growing in the electronic sector majorly. This is a huge sector where we can grow and with the increasing usage of internet users we can make a mark. Till December 31, we have received investments worth Rs 1,20,000 crores in the country.”

Need to Change the Nation

According to the minister, they are constantly simplifying government policies and procedures for good governance and development. “Good governance can never happen unless the government is integrated,” he said, adding equality and growth are the two important factors for the development of the nation.

He said the state Government is working towards connecting 2.5 lakh gram panchayats in the country via an optical fibre network. “It is important that we establish equality among the nation. We need to change the nation and facilitate connectivity to every gram panchayat. For that we have aimed to spread optical fibres network in as many as gram-panchayats as we can,” said Prasad.

They are planning to initiate some new projects in Indian villages. In order to do so, the gram panchayats of every village need to be connected via a network. Prasad said, “When all gram panchayats would be linked through this network, then e-business, e-education, e-health and other projects could be started in villages.” The minister also said there are nearly 95 crore Aadhar card holders in the country and the government has made the card mandatory for obtaining the advantages of many schemes to improve good governance.

During the function, addressing the officials of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and India Post, the Union minister said the departments need to adjust themselves and need to work for the development of the nation.