According to the results of CMS:T, there has been a marked increase in the number of Indians who use mobile phones and access the internet.
Access to the internet can be a powerful tool for empowerment, enabling individuals to access information, connect with others, and participate in civic and economic life.
About the Comprehensive Modular Survey – Telecom (CMS:T)
The Comprehensive Modular Survey: Telecom (CMS: T) was conducted as part of the 80th round of the National Sample Survey (NSS) from January to March 2025.
It was conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO).
Unlike other NSS surveys, there was no state participation in CMS: T.
The survey was conducted alongside the ongoing ‘Household Social Consumption: Health’ survey under the NSS 80th round.
It collected data on:
Mobile and internet usage (household & individual level)
Selected ICT skills
Data was gathered through Computer-Assisted Personal Interviews (CAPI).
Mobile ownership: Having an active SIM card for personal use (includes employer-provided phones).
Joint ownership is not counted, ownership is based on majority use.
Key Highlights on Mobile Phone and Internet Usage in India
Household Smartphone:85.5% of Indian households have at least one smartphone.
Internet Access: 86.3% of households have internet access within their premises.
Online Banking & UPI Adoption: Among those who can perform online banking transactions, 99.5% reported using UPI (Unified Payments Interface).
Mobile Ownership Among Women in India
Lowest Mobile Ownership by Women: Chhattisgarh (39%), Tripura (40.4%), and Madhya Pradesh (42.4%) have the lowest mobile phone ownership among women (aged 15+).
10 states/UTs fall below the national average of 56.2% women owning mobile phones.
Highest Mobile Ownership by Women: Goa & Ladakh (92%) lead, followed by Mizoram (88.5%), Kerala (85%), and Puducherry (83%).
Urban vs. Rural Divide:
Urban areas: 72% of women own mobile phones.
Rural areas: Only 48% of women own mobile phones.
Men’s ownership:90% (urban) and 80.7% (rural).
Mobile Usage Trends: 79.8% of women used mobile phones in the last three months.
This data highlights significant disparities in mobile access for women, especially in rural and low-performing states.
Data among the Youth (Age Group 15-29 Years)
Mobile Phone Usage:
Rural areas: 96.8% of individuals (Age Group 15-29 Years) used mobile phones for personal calls or internet access in the last three months.
Urban areas: 97.6% of individuals used mobile phones in the same period.
Smartphone Ownership:
Rural areas: 95.5% of mobile phone owners in this age group own a smartphone.
Urban areas: 97.6% of mobile phone owners in this age group own a smartphone.
Internet Usage:
Rural areas: 92.7% of individuals accessed the internet at least once in the last three months.
Urban areas: 95.7% of individuals accessed the internet in the same period.
These findings highlight the widespread adoption of mobile phones, smartphones, and internet services among India’s youth and households.
Connect with our experts to get free counselling & start preparing
Aiming for UPSC?
Download Our App
Know about Physics Wallah
Physics Wallah is an Indian online education platform, that provides accessible & comprehensive learning experiences to students of classes 6 to 12 and those preparing for JEE and NEET exams. We also provide extensive NCERT solutions, sample papers, NEET, JEE Mains, BITSAT previous year papers, which makes us a one-stop solution for all resources. Physics Wallah also caters to over 3.5 million registered students and over 78 lakh+ Youtube subscribers with 4.8 rating on its app.
We Stand Out because
We successfully provide students with intensive courses by India's qualified & experienced faculties. PW strives to make the learning experience comprehensive and accessible for students of all sections of society. We believe in empowering every single student who couldn't dream of a good career in engineering and medical field earlier.
Our Key Focus Areas
Physics Wallah’s main focus is to create accessible learning experiences for students all over India. With courses like Lakshya, Udaan, Arjuna & many others, we have been able to provide a ready solution for lakhs of aspirants. From providing Chemistry, Maths, Physics formulae to giving e-books of eminent authors, PW aims to provide reliable solutions for student prep.
What Makes Us Different
Physics Wallah strives to develop a comprehensive pedagogical structure for students, where they get a state-of-the-art learning experience with study material and resources. Apart from catering students preparing for JEE Mains and NEET, PW also provides study material for each state board like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and others.
Aiming for UPSC?
Download Our App
Quick Revise Now !
AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD SOON
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format Integration of PYQ within the booklet Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध
Quick Revise Now ! UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format Integration of PYQ within the booklet Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध
<div class="new-fform">
</div>
Subscribe our Newsletter
Sign up now for our exclusive newsletter and be the first to know about our latest Initiatives, Quality Content, and much more.