India’s web person base crossed 950 million in 2025, pushed by speedy progress in rural connectivity, rising short-video consumption and rising adoption of synthetic intelligence, in keeping with the‘Web in India Report 2025’ launched by Web and Cellular Affiliation of India (IAMAI) on Thursday.

The report, collectively ready by IAMAI and Kantar, was unveiled on the India Digital Summit within the presence of Manjula N, Secretary to the Authorities, Division of Electronics, IT/BT and Science and Expertise, Authorities of Karnataka.

In response to the report, India now has 958 million Energetic Web Customers (AIU), reflecting an approximate 8% year-on-year improve and reinforcing the nation’s place as one of many world’s largest and fastest-evolving digital markets.

Rural India continues to guide this enlargement, accounting for 57% of energetic web customers, or about 548 million folks. The report famous that rural areas are rising at practically 4 occasions the tempo of city India, signalling a structural shift in the place and the way digital adoption is deepening.

AI has reached mass adoption ranges, the report stated, with 44% of customers partaking with AI-enabled options reminiscent of voice search, image-based search, chatbots and AI filters. Utilization is highest amongst youthful audiences, with 57% of customers aged 15–24 years and 52% of these aged 25–44 years reporting AI utilization previously yr.

Quick-video consumption has emerged as a key driver of engagement. In 2025, 588 million customers, or 61% of India’s web inhabitants, consumed short-video content material, with rural customers marginally outnumbering city customers. Adoption is strongest amongst youthful cohorts, underlining their position in shaping consumption patterns.

IAMAI stated the expansion in web entry can be reshaping on-line commerce. Amongst city customers, 230 million folks, representing 56% of the city energetic web base, shopped on-line previously yr. Fast commerce is main a elementary shift in how Indians store on-line, with social commerce gaining traction alongside established marketplaces.

The report highlighted rising multi-device utilization, with India now dwelling to 193 million multi-device web customers, or 20% of all energetic customers, up from 165 million in 2024. City adoption stands at 31%, whereas rural adoption has reached 12%. Shared machine utilization stays a key enabler of entry, with 18% of customers going surfing via another person’s cell machine. Practically 80% of those customers are primarily based in rural areas.

Regardless of the momentum, 38% of India’s inhabitants, or about 579 million folks, stays non-active web customers. The report famous that this share has been steadily declining yr after yr, indicating vital headroom for additional digital enlargement.

The 2025 version of the Web in India report relies on a survey of practically 100,000 shoppers throughout greater than 400 cities and over 1,000 villages. IAMAI stated India’s digital progress has been formed by sustained investments in cell broadband, inexpensive smartphones and knowledge plans, authorities digital-inclusion initiatives, and the rise of domestically tailor-made, regional-language content material and functions.