A New Way to Measure Digital Capability

Countries are tracking their progress in technological capabilities as these are times when artificial intelligence (AI) matters more than military artillery and economies must remain competitive.

- PRANJAL SHARMA

A fresh and relevant approach to assessing digital competitiveness has been developed by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER). The Delhi-based international think tank has a new report called 'State of India's Digital Economy' that assesses national capabilities using a framework that analyses connectivity, harnessing of technology, innovation, protection against cyberattacks, and sustainability (CHIPS).

Indices developed by ICRIER's Prosus Centre for Internet and Digital Economy assessed digitization of the Indian economy and its users, for the report. India is the eighth most digitalized among 32 countries assessed. The seven countries that are ahead of India are the United States (US), China, Singapore, South Korea, Denmark, the United Kingdom (UK) and Germany.

Developing countries are moving from the margins to the mainstream of digital innovation. They account for the global majority of internet and smartphone users.