Network Readiness Index: India Improved Its Position by 4 Slots And leads In AI

Network Readiness Index 2025(NRI 2025) released by Portulans Institute,an independent, non-profit research and educational institute based in Washington DC released on February 4, 2026, The report maps the network-based readiness landscape of 127 economies based on their performance in four pillars: Technology, People, Governance and Impact, covering a total of 53 indicators. 

Key Highlights Network Readiness Index 2025:

• Network Readiness Index Report 2025, prepared by Portulans Institute based in Washington DC.

• India leads in several indicators - secured 1st rank in “Annual investment in telecommunication services”, “AI scientific publications”, “ICT services exports” and “E-commerce legislation”

• Improves its position by 4 slots and is now placed at 45th rank as per the NRI 2025 report. 

• India not only improved its ranking but has also improved its score from 53.63 out of 100 in 2024 to 54.43 out of 100 in 2025. India leads in several indicators such as 

• India secured 1st rank in “Annual investment in telecommunication services”, “AI scientific publications”, “ICT services exports” and “E-commerce legislation”, 

• 2nd rank in “FTTH/Building Internet subscriptions”, “Mobile broadband internet traffic within the country” and “International Internet bandwidth”.

• 3rd rank in “Domestic market scale” and “Income Inequality”.

• India has greater network readiness than would be expected given its income level. India is ranked 2nd in the group of lower-middle-income countries.

The United States maintained its top position globally for the fourth consecutive year followed by Finland (2nd) and Singapore (3rd) as the world's most network-ready societies, along with Denmark and Sweden, dominate the rankings by balancing advanced technology with high-quality governance and inclusive digital access.

Powering India’s Digital Ascent!
India rises to 45th Position in the Network Readiness Index 2025, leading globally in telecom investment, AI research, ICT exports & e-commerce legislation — a proof of our strong digital momentum.#DoT #Telecom #India #DigitalIndia #NRI2025… pic.twitter.com/gfali1qCL8

— DoT India (@DoT_India) February 9, 2026

However the report also highlights a "sharply asymmetric" landscape in India faces a significant Governance gap, ranking 73rd due to weak Privacy Protection by Law (101st) and fragmented regulatory frameworks, a sharp Gender Divide (96th) in internet use and a rural-urban split in digital payment adoption. Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities highlighted a shortage of specialized cybersecurity experts remain critical hurdles. 

       India Performance in Network Readiness Index 2025

Source: NRI 2025

The Network Readiness Index 2025 report shows India climbed 4 spots to 45th, improving its score. India ranks first globally in AI scientific publications, telecom investment, ICT services exports, and e-commerce legislation. Despite strong performance in technology, the report highlights significant challenges for India, including a governance gap, weak privacy protection, and a gender divide in internet use.

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