metro india news  I new delhi

India’s internet user base crossed 950 million in 2025, driven primarily by rapid growth in rural connectivity, rising short-video consumption, and increasing adoption of artificial intelligence, according to the Internet in India Report 2025 released by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and Kantar.

The report, unveiled at the India Digital Summit, said India now has 958 million active internet users, recording nearly eight per cent year-on-year growth. This reinforces the country’s position as one of the world’s largest and fastest-evolving digital markets.

A key highlight of the study is the growing dominance of rural India, which accounts for 57 per cent of active internet users, or around 548 million people. Rural regions are expanding their internet base at nearly four times the pace of urban India, indicating a structural shift in digital adoption patterns.

Artificial intelligence has reached mass adoption, with 44 per cent of users engaging with AI-enabled features such as voice search, image-based search, chatbots, and AI filters. AI usage is highest among younger users, with over half of those aged between 15 and 44 reporting use in the past year.

Short-video platforms have emerged as a major growth driver. In 2025, about 588 million users, or 61 per cent of India’s internet population, consumed short-video content, with rural users slightly outnumbering urban users. Younger audiences continue to lead this trend.

The report also pointed to changes in online shopping behaviour. Quick commerce is reshaping e-commerce, while social commerce is gaining traction. Among urban users, 230 million people shopped online in the past year.

Multi-device usage is rising, with 193 million users accessing the internet through more than one device. Despite this growth, 38 per cent of India’s population, around 579 million people, remains offline, highlighting significant scope for further digital expansion.