QUANTIFYING DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE INEQUALITY IN INDIAN GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS: A COMPOSITE INDEX AND CLUSTER-BASED APPROACH

Digital infrastructure plays a pivotal role in ensuring equitable and high-quality education in an increasingly technology-driven world. In India, government schools primarily serve students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, making access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) essential for inclusive human capital development. Despite several national initiatives designed to strengthen digital education, significant disparities persist across states in both the availability and intensity of ICT infrastructure. These differences reflect broader regional imbalances in governance capacity, fiscal resources, and development priorities. This study examines the magnitude and structure of inter-state disparities in the digital infrastructure of government schools across India using state-level data. The dataset forms the basis for constructing a Composite ICT Index and calculating the Coefficient of Variation, as well as conducting cluster analysis to identify regional patterns in the distribution of digital infrastructure. The findings reveal substantial variation and moderate-to-high levels of inequality in ICT provision, with clear regional stratification between digitally advanced and lagging states. These results underscore the need for targeted, needs-based policy interventions to promote balanced digital expansion and to ensure equitable educational modernization across Indian states.