Patna: Young people in Bihar’s rural areas are using mobile phones at rates even higher than their urban counterparts, according to new government data that also highlights gaps in smartphone use and cyber crime reporting across the state.
Figures from the Government of India’s Telecom 2025 Modular Survey reveal that 97.8% of people aged 15-29 in rural Bihar used mobile phones for calls or internet access in the past three months, compared with 96.6% in urban areas. Nationally, mobile phone usage in this age group stands at 96.8% in rural areas and 97.6% in urban centres.
However, Bihar still trails slightly in smartphone penetration. While 95.5% of rural youth nationwide own smartphones, the proportion in Bihar is lower, though exact state-level smartphone ownership figures were not disclosed.
Internet usage among Bihar’s youth also remains robust. The survey found that 94.1% of rural youth and 93.9% of urban youth in the state accessed the internet at least once in the past three months, closely aligning with the national averages of 92.7% in rural areas and 95.7% in urban areas.
Despite these high connectivity levels, the state is falling behind in digital safety engagement. The survey shows only 18.3% of Biharis report cyber crime incidents, compared with a national average of 26.5%. In rural areas, the gap is stark, with just 16.2% reporting cyber fraud in Bihar, against a national rural average of 20%. The urban difference is smaller but persists, with 34.2% of urban Biharis lodging cyber crime complaints compared to 37.5% nationally.
The findings underscore a growing digital divide—not in access, but in awareness and reporting behaviour—highlighting the need for greater outreach and digital literacy efforts, particularly in cyber security and consumer protection.
