Digitalization in India

The Research Unit for Political Economy, based in Mumbai, India, publishes the journal Aspects of India's Economy and a range of research publications in English, Hindi, and other Indian languages.

"At last! A book that uses the lens of critical political economy to put digitalisation firmly in its class context in the global South."--Ursula Huws "founder and editor of Work Organisation, Labour and Globalisation; author, Labor in the Global Digital Economy: The Cybertariat Comes of Age, and The Making of a Cybertariat: Virtual Work in a Real World" "Digitalization is a veritable mania of the Indian elite and, by extension, of the Indian state. Projected as a public good, it often serves hidden agendas. This book is a rare attempt to understand these issues through the lens of political economy. A powerful critique of digimania."--Jean Dreze "Delhi School of Economics" "India's digital infrastructure and the increasing number of mobile phones in people's hands have led to a significant expansion of the digital economy. So who has benefited from this expansion of the digital economy? The people? Or a handful of monopolies, including new digital ones? Digitalization in India offer some answers to these crucial questions."--Prabir Purkayastha "author, Knowledge as Commons and Keeping Up the Good Fight; founder and Editor-in-Chief, NewsClick" "Reading these interesting articles from R.U.P.E. throws light on the real impact of the digitization process in India--and will help us to navigate us to the likely impact of the application of AI in India and the entire Global South"--Bernard D'Mello "senior journalist, Economic and Political Weekly (India); author, India after Naxalbari: Unfinished History" "Examines the darker underside of digitalization . . . the authors expose the magical thinking, structural inequalities, and self-serving ideologies. This is essential reading for anyone seeking a deeper, more critical understanding of India's digital turn. "--Namit Arora "author, A Brief History of Civilization and Love and Loathing in the Silicon Valley"