Letter to the Editor
Dear Sir,
Digital Inclusion or Digital Illusion?
India’s ‘JAM trinity’ is a masterstroke of economic architecture, yet its foundation the smartphone, is crumbling under fiscal pressure. While we celebrate 570 million Jan Dhan accounts and the world’s cheapest data, an 18% GST on handsets acts as a regressive gatekeeper.
The 7% dip in Q4 2025 shipments isn’t just a market correction; it’s a red flag for digital equity. When a Vidarbha farmer is priced out of hardware by rupee depreciation and tax tiers, the “Digital Public Infrastructure” becomes a bridge to nowhere.
We risk creating a “Silicon Ceiling” where the poor are digitally disenfranchised. To truly democratize our ascent, we must stop taxing the primary tool of financial survival as a luxury. If the device is out of reach, the revolution is on hold.
Dr. Vijaykumar H K, T-6-327 colony , Shaktinagar, Raichur -584170
