Network Readiness Index 2025

India has improved its ranking in the Network Readiness Index (NRI) 2025, jumping four places to 45th. India's score increased to 54.43/100, reflecting the country's strength and progress in digital and network readiness.

About the Network Readiness Index (NRI)

The Network Readiness Index (NRI) is a global index that measures how effectively countries are using information and communication technologies (ICTs) to drive economic growth, innovation, quality of governance, and social progress.

Publisher

The index is published by the Portulans Institute, an independent, non-profit research and educational institute based in Washington, D.C.

Objectives

• To measure a country's digital network and technology readiness
• To assess the extent to which ICT adoption is achieving inclusive growth, innovation, governance efficiency, and social impact.

Key Features

• The NRI covers the economies of 127 countries.
• The index is based on four main pillars:
  • Technology: Digital infrastructure, access, and future technologies
  • People: Skills, digital inclusion, and workforce readiness
  • Governance: Rules and policy, trust, and security
  • Impact: Economic, social, and environmental outcomes
• It includes 53 indicators such as broadband access, AI research, digital trade, laws, and market size.
• Countries are compared by income level to reveal which countries are performing better or worse than their income potential.

India's Performance in NRI 2025

Rank and Score

• India ranked 45th, an increase of four places compared to 2024.
• Score increased from 53.63 (2024) to 54.43 (2025).

Global Leadership

• India ranked first in the world in the following areas:
  • Annual investment in telecommunications services
  • Scientific publications related to AI
  • Exports of ICT services
  • Laws and policies related to e-commerce

Robust infrastructure and use

• India ranked second in the following areas:
  • FTTH/building internet subscriptions
  • Mobile broadband traffic
  • International internet bandwidth

Market Scale

India ranks third in terms of domestic market size, reflecting its large and digitally active consumer base.

Income-Adjusted Performance

According to the report, India's network readiness exceeds expectations for its income level. India ranks second in the category of low-middle income countries.