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Why The National Digital Literacy Mission Is A Game-Changer For India’s Digital Growth?

Pragya Pathak

Author

Updated: 24-09-2025 at 3:30 PM

National Digital Literacy Mission (NDLM)

We are in the 21st century, also known as the digital century, in which technology has entered almost every domain of our lives. An invention that was a luxury before is now a necessity without which one cannot imagine their life. However, in a developing country like India, there are many people, like people from rural areas and domains where technology is still waiting outside the doors.

To change this existing picture, the government of India launched the National Digital Literacy Mission (NDLM), also known as the Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan (DISHA), which aims to open the door for technology so that it can enter and flourish in people’s lives, irrespective of their geographical location, literacy, socio-economic status, etc.

Read the article to learn more about what the NDL mission is, why it was conceived, the areas covered under it, and other relevant details.

Overview

The table below summarises some important details about the govt mission that one should know.

Name of the program	NDLM
Full form	National Digital Literacy Mission
Launched by	Government of India
Launched in	2014
Objective	To make the people of India digitally literate
Target group	Rural and urban population
Benefits	Training and education about the digital world

What Is The National Digital Literacy Mission?

The National Digital Literacy Mission (NDLM), also known as the Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan (DISHA), was launched in the year of 2014 by the government of India. The govt program aims to impart digital literacy to every citizen of India, irrespective of their residence areas, literacy level, caste, etc. NDLM comes under the Digital India program. The primary objective of NDLM is to impart education about technology to at least one member of a family so that they can use it for personal or professional purposes and improve their lives.

Vision & Objectives

The govt program has several features that outline its goals and objectives. Some of the major features of the modernised mission are mentioned below:

Digital literacy: The new Digital Literacy Mission aims to provide technological education to the people of India by organising free training workshops.
Rural reach: The government’s primary target group is people from rural areas or marginalised communities, so that they can enjoy all the benefits associated with technology as others do.
Inclusive development: The Digital Literacy Mission’s ultimate mission is to promote the inclusive and equal development of all.

Why Was NDLM Created, And For Whom?

The government of India recognised that the people of the nation needed a little push to allow technology to enter their lives, which led to the birth of the National Digital Literacy Mission. Digital literacy is crucial in today’s date as India is transforming its working from traditional to digital approaches.

As per a report released by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), only 43% of people can be called tech-savvy, and less than 40% of people residing in rural areas have internet facilities. This mission isn’t only needed but crucial for the personal growth and development of the people of the nation.

Also read: Government’s Initiative To Protect And Regulate Data

What Are The Benefits Of The Digital Literacy Mission?

The new Digital Literacy Mission comes with many benefits for the citizens of a country like India, where people are united by values and traditions but divided by residence areas or caste. Some of its major benefits are mentioned below:

Digital education: The govt program would provide education about the digital world so that people can enter that digital world and let it help them in their lives.
Empowerment: NDLM aims to empower people by educating them about technology and how they can use it to improve their lives by accessing education, gaining knowledge about other fields, grabbing employment opportunities, growing their small businesses, etc.

What Is The Eligibility Criteria Of The National Digital Literacy Mission?

People first need to ensure whether they fit into the eligibility criteria or not. The eligibility criteria for the new Digital Literacy Mission are mentioned below:

An individual must be an Indian citizen.
Should be between the ages of 14 to 60 years.
None of the family members should’ve access to IT education.

What Are The Required Documents For The National Digital Literacy Mission?

Applicants must submit supporting documents to register for the Digital Literacy Mission successfully. The list of documents is as follows:

What Areas Are Covered Under NDLM?

The National Digital Literacy Mission covers some specific areas and professions so that people who don’t have any idea about technology can take advantage of the mission. The areas that it covers are:

Areas	Professions
North Tripura – Naogang, Panisagar	Farmers and Fishermen
Rajasthan – Arain, Ajmer	Different disciplines
Andhra Pradesh – Muthyalammapalem, Vizag	Fishermen
Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh (including Telangana), Gujarat and Karnataka	Students
Odisha, Kerala, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Assam, NCT of Delhi, Punjab and Chhattisgarh	Students
Himachal Pradesh, Daman & Diu, Tripura, Lakshadweep, Meghalaya, Puducherry, Manipur, Chandigarh, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Dadar & Nagar Haveli	Students

What Training Is Provided Under NDLM?

There are two major types of training provided under the government mission to satisfy its ultimate goal and objective eventually. Those two levels of training are mentioned below in brief:

Level 1: In Level 1, people are taught to use digital gadgets like smartphones, computers, and tablets and carry out various functions like sending mail, searching for information, etc. The course runs for 40 hours within 10-30 days.
Level 2: In Level 2, advanced training is provided wherein people are taught to access government websites, employment services, financial services, etc. The course runs for 40 hours within 20-60 days.

Sub-Projects Of NDLM

There are some sub-projects that the new Digital Literacy Mission covers under it. The list of those sub-projects is:

Wireless technology
Skill development programs for employment
e-NGO program
Community Information Resource Centre
Tele-Health Services
Digital Panchayat programs
Web-based sanitation and drinking water system
Women Literacy Mission Program
Digital Panchayat program

Conclusion

The National Digital Literacy Mission (NDLM) aims to impart digital literacy to the citizens of India, especially those residing in rural areas or from marginalised communities, so that they can reap its benefits and improve their lives.

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