Digital Bharat Surges: UPI, Smartphones Drive Rural Growth, Report Reveals

• India's digital transformation is now rural-led, powered by 660 million smartphone users and 16-17 billion monthly UPI transactions.
• UPI accounts for 83% of total payment volume by 2024, up from 34% in 2019, handling 16-17 billion transactions monthly.
• Smartphone penetration nearly doubled to 660 million by 2024, with rural adoption surging 40% and contributing 53% of internet users.
• Mobile data cost plummeted to ₹9 per GB, increasing village internet access from 25% to 75%, connecting over 850 million people.
• Digital commerce is projected to reach ₹2.7 trillion by 2030, fueled by Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, with rural India as a key growth engine.