Dear Sunder Pichai

Context: Google’s big bet on Digital India, must take into consideration the digital realities of India.

Digital Realities of India

• India recognises the internet as a human right: and yet, has led the world in internet shutdowns. 
• Its internet speeds can be slow and variable, but its uptake of smartphones is the world’s fastest. 
• It is worst on digital preparedness indicators and yet is second only to China in internet users, app downloads, and social media users. 
• Digitising India inevitably means tackling India’s digital and societal access gaps
• High digital or gender divide: only 21% of women are mobile internet users. 
• Societal factors restrict the digital freedom of females.
• Rural India has limited internet access. 
• The post-COVID lockdowns will lock in these inequities across generations. 
• Differences in digital access mean differences in the quality of education.
• Google and its competitors could ensure inclusive financial access.
• Mobile phone has been a source of empowerment: for India’s hug informal/ mobile workforce but they are prone to several problems like:

• Connectivity issues

• Power sources are hard to find
• Electronic cash transfers are hard to make
• Limited access to banks: only 22% of recipients of migrant remittances have access to banks within one km.
• Digitising age-old agricultural practices can be transformational: precision farming can improve the timing and quantity of seeding, irrigation and fertiliser usage and can ensure credit at lower costs.
• India will be data-rich before it is “economically rich”: data richness exists without a forward-looking and inclusive data governance policy.
• Google can offer data governance guidance to Indian lawmakers.
• It is essential to get a handle on the “infodemic” problem in India: pandemic has amplified the problem of misinformation.
• Google-owned YouTube has launched Fact Check information panels to flag misinformation.
• Big bet on India must be viewed in the larger geopolitical context: i.e India is edging closer to the US corner in the tech Cold War between the US and China. 
• Digital technologies can create jobs: hence the government must invest in skill-building and education at all levels.
•  Streamline regulations for enhancing digital and physical foundations and for developing more progressive data accessibility laws.