- Why in news
- The Network Readiness Index 2025, released on 4 February 2026, puts India at 45th rank, up four places. The Ministry of Communications highlighted it on 9 February 2026.
- What it is
- The Network Readiness Index (NRI) is a yearly report of the Portulans Institute, a non-profit research body in Washington DC. It measures how well economies use information and communication technology to gain economic and social benefit. It ranks economies on four pillars: Technology, People, Governance and Impact.
- Publisher
- The report is prepared by the Portulans Institute, an independent non-profit research and educational institute based in Washington DC.
- India's first ranks
- India is 1st in annual telecom investment, AI scientific publications, ICT services exports and E-commerce legislation.
- Income group
- India is ranked 2nd among lower-middle-income countries and is more network-ready than its income level would suggest.
Don’t confuse with NRI vs Global Innovation Index: The NRI (Portulans Institute) measures ICT readiness. The Global Innovation Index is published by WIPO and measures innovation.
Reports and indices: 14 Prelims questions since 2013; they test who publishes a report and what it measures.
Why it matters
- A higher rank signals progress in digital infrastructure, AI research and ICT exports.
Problems
- Rank gains in some indicators can hide gaps in access, skills and affordability.
Way forward
- Improve digital skills and last-mile connectivity while keeping up telecom investment.
- 2016Mains ESSAY · Q4Whether digital economy levels society or creates economic inequality
- 2021Mains GS2 · Q16Whether rural digital illiteracy and ICT access hindered socio-economic development
- 2019Mains GS2 · Q8Factors hindering ICT projects' implementation and measures for effective implementation
- 2026Prelims Q89Key objective of ONDC: breaking e-commerce dominance via interoperability
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Single answer
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
With reference to the Network Readiness Index (NRI) 2025, consider the following statements:
Which one of the following is correct?
True or false?
1 of 2
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.India's rank in NRI 2025 improved by four places to 45th.
True. India is now 45th, up four slots.
2.India's NRI score fell from 2024 to 2025 despite a better rank.
False. The score rose from 53.63 to 54.43.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.