Internet Access Among Indian Women Doubles to 64.3%, Claims NFHS-6

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Monday, 27 July 2026

Internet access among women in India has risen sharply, marking a major shift in the country's digital landscape. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6), 64.3 percent of women have accessed the internet, more than double the 33.3 percent recorded in NFHS-5.

The rapid increase reflects significant progress in digital inclusion, bringing millions of women online and expanding access to information, education, financial services, and opportunities across the country.

As per the latest NFHS findings released in May 2026, it has been revealed that the internet is no longer a luxury for many Indian women. Now a homemaker can sell the homemade pickles in the country. A young mother can teach her child a new language after the baby has fallen asleep.

A student at college in a little town can study for competitive exams for free online. Even many women have made a profession out of their hobbies like selling homemade pickles, cakes, Sarees, jewellery and artwork on Instagram and WhatsApp. The Internet has been an unheralded leveler in many respects.

Key Highlights:

• Internet access among Indian women doubled to 64.3% in NFHS-6
• More women are using the internet for education, business, and financial independence
• Cyber threats, including harassment and deepfakes, remain a growing concern

Not only is it convenient. Women today are turning to online spaces to share their experiences, ask questions they never had the chance to voice in real life, find out about their legal rights, join support groups and form communities on a myriad of topics, from parenting to entrepreneurship.

The woman entrepreneur can develop an understanding about how her products can be marketed. Anxiety sufferers can hear stories from women that they have suffered from the same thing. For many women, the internet has been a lifesaver, in many ways.

If you ask any woman who spends time online, she'll recount at least one harrowing tale. Unusual message from an unfamiliar email address. An account created with her picture.A fake profile profile with her photo. Opinions that are expressed with abusive comments. Or the fear of AI-generated deepfake images and videos.

The Internet has brought convenience to life, but it also gives women new opportunities to be targeted. It can be a different kind of fear for the women than on the street, but that doesn't make it any less real. The mental checklist is not lost! It's just a change. Women have always been the ones who have been used to asking themselves questions in front of going outdoors.

One of the newest concerns isn't just fake accounts. It's deepfakes. In today's world, with one publicly available photograph people can artificially generate fake explicit images or videos using AI. Several Indian women, from students and professionals to journalists and public figures have found themselves victims of such misuse.

It's not just actors and actresses who fear it now. Even taking a picture has recently become a question that many common women have to ask themselves: What if someone uses it for the wrong purpose?

This is because as more women enter the online world, so has cybercrime, as well. Experts have sounded the alarm numerous times for a rise in Online harassment, scams, fake profiles, and deepfakes.

A large number of women who experience these do not report them. Some fear blame. Still others think that nothing can be done if they complain. This can make the emotional effect unseen.

India has accomplished a remarkable performance in getting millions of women online. That progress is demonstrated in NFHS-6. The next challenge is not access, however, but trust. There shouldn't be a choice between opportunity and safety for women.

Digital empowerment isn't complete when a woman has a smartphone. It is fully realized when she can use that cell phone without fear of harassment, manipulation, scamming or silencing by others. It is the next step that India needs to go for.