DIGITAL DIVIDE AND EDUCATIONAL INEQUALITY: A SOCIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION IN POST-PANDEMIC INDIA

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed and intensified India’s long-standing digital divide, transforming educational inequality into an urgent national concern. This study critically examines how the sudden transition to online learning deepened disparities across class, caste, gender, and regional lines, disproportionately affecting marginalized learners. Drawing on recent reports, policy documents, and empirical observations, the paper highlights the barriers of device access, connectivity, and digital literacy that contributed to significant learning losses. It evaluates post-pandemic interventions, including initiatives such as PM eVIDYA and the expansion of private EdTech platforms, assessing both their reach and limitations. The study proposes a framework for inclusive digital education through hybrid learning models, vernacular content, affordable infrastructure, and localized solutions. It argues that bridging the digital divide requires not only technological expansion but also a reimagining of education as a fundamental democratic right in the digital age.