A LITERATURE REVIEW ON DIGITAL DIVIDE – AN IMPEDIMENT ON A PATHWAY TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Financial inclusion is very essential to ensure for effective economic development. Various organisations and authorities at national and international level are taking efforts to achieve sustainable development goals. Few of them can be attained with the help of financial inclusion like reduced inequalities, no poverty, zero hunger, gender equality, etc. In today’s digital era, technology is playing very influential role where financial sector is also reaping benefit out of it. But still, it is facing difficulties due to differences in technology adoption across socio-economic sectors of the society. This has gained attention of various scholars to understand the issue and find out the best solution.  This paper attempts to study various articles, reports discussing this issue. The study is based on the secondary data. There are various factors causing digital divide but among them inadequate infrastructure, poor or no digital skills, lack of financial literacy, cybercrimes, rural urban divide are strongly affecting digitalization. The Government of India has implemented various schemes to achieve financial inclusion and reduce digital divide. Financial institutions and regulatory authorities are also putting its efforts to achieve SDGs.