Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Indian Connectedness of
Online NRI
© Copy Right JuxtConsult
Table of Content
NRI Online 2006 ........................................................... 1
Methodology ............................................................... 3
Executive Summary ...................................................... 5
Detailed Findings:
Non Residential Status ..................................................10
Half the online NRI are South Indians in origin .....................12
Online NRI are largely mature males .................................15
Only 1 in 5 west-based online NRI is a ‘techie’.....................19
West-based online NRI are economically better off ...............22
Gulf-based online NRI are more connected with India ............24
West-based NRI are more 'online' .....................................45
Gulf NRI access Internet more from office, west ones more from
homes .....................................................................48
Both surf for Indian content almost equally ........................52
Politics and economy are the most surfed Indian content........54
Gulf ones buy from Indian websites relatively more...............55
Website Preferences for Indian Content.............................59
Offline media preferences for Indian content ......................74
Index.......................................................................78
NRI Online 2006
This desire among the NRI to stay connected with India translates into
making them a very ‘high purchasing power’ consumer segment base
for most Indian marketers. Whether it is traveling, real estate, financial
savings and investments, jewelry, handicrafts, food items or herbal
products, NRI or their relatives back home form a significant part of the
‘high value’ Indian consumption.
In the last few years Internet has emerged as one of the important
mediums for the Non-resident Indians to stay connected with India. NRI
are increasingly using the Internet to communicate with people back
home, and to maintain the economic, social, political and philanthropic
networks with the Indian homeland. Yet there is very little information
available on the online connectivity of the NRI with India.
The findings of the NRI Online 2006 report from JuxtConsult are based
on an online survey conducted with the NRI Diaspora living in various
parts of the world.
The objective of the study was not to measure how many NRI are online
or what proportion come from which regions. It was essentially to check
their status and preferences in staying connected with India and their
online behavior in doing so.
To make the report even more meaningful for Indian marketers, the NRI
Diaspora have been grouped into 2 main clusters – Gulf-based NRI and
West-based NRI. This has been done to capture the two ‘distinct’ and
really big NRI markets and compare and contrast their motivations and
usage of Internet to stay connected with India.
1
NRI Online 2006
2
NRI Online 2006
Methodology
The task of conducting an online survey among the Indian Diaspora
spread across the world appeared a tough challenge to begin with. How
does one effectively reach all these widely spread out NRI in different
countries? Which online vehicles or websites do we consider to be able
to reach them noticeably, cast the net wide enough and yet do so in a
cost-efficient manner? How does one ensure that the responses
collected are representative of the online NRI across different regions
of the globe and not reflect just one particular section of NRI in a
biased way?
Over 1,630 completed, As the final usable sample collected from the 3
cluster groups of online NRI were different, to ensure that the overall
online NRI level information is not biased towards any one specific NRI
cluster group, the different sample bases of the 3 groups of online NRI
were equalized using response level weights. Unduplicated and usable
responses were collected on the India connectedness of the online NRI.
Of these about 1,000 NRI also reported their net usage & preference
details.
The net result was the compilation of the latest, highly authentic
information on the online connectedness, Internet habits and website
preferences of online NRI. This information was then used for making
‘insightful’ analysis and conclusions as contained in the NRI Online 2006
report.
The final NRI groups with their sample bases used in the report are as
follows:
4
NRI Online 2006
Executive Summary
‘Family connection’ is largely what keeps online NRI hooked to
India
By and large two-thirds of the NRI, irrespective of whether they are
based in gulf or in the more developed parts of the world feel that
what binds them to India is their ‘family’ back home. Gulf ones
highlight family connection somewhat more at 72% as against 63% of
west-based ones.
5
NRI Online 2006
It is not that the gulf-based ones surf the net less regularly than the
west-based ones to check Indian content, it is just that they use the
offline mediums significantly more to watch or read about India.
This contrast is also reflected in the Indian role models that online NRI
have as compared to the online Indians. While online Indians see
business, sports and cinema celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan,
Dhirubahi Ambani, Sachin Tendulkar or Shah Rukh Khan as the relatively
bigger role models in their lives (apart from their parents), the online
NRI look up to APJ Abdul Kalam, Mahatma Gandhi and Manmohan Singh
as bigger role models than these celebrities.
Between the two online NRI groups, while the gulf-based ones seek
economic progress and sports content relatively more, the west-based
ones seek cinema, fashion and religion/spirituality content relatively
more.
Though 2 out of 3 online NRI already have bank accounts and houses
back in India, almost half the online NRI would still like to invest in a
house or land in India in the near future. In comparison only around 1 in
4 online NRI would like to invest in financial assets.
Amongst the two groups of online NRI, the gulf-based ones not only
show relatively higher current ownership of both physical and financial
assets in India, but are also the ones who show relatively higher
propensity to make further investments in shares and deposits in India
as compared to the west-based ones. The west-based ones show a
relatively higher propensity for opening bank accounts in India.
6
NRI Online 2006
West-based NRI are generally the heavier users of the net, but
not the heavier users of Indian content on the net
Not only a noticeably higher proportion of west-based online NRI access
the net several times a day but also significantly more of them use the
net for more than 2 hours a day from home.
The story is no different for usage of Indian content from the offices as
well. The gulf-based online NRI are almost as heavy users of the net
from office as the west-based ones, and they check Indian content from
office somewhat more heavily than the west-based ones.
The gulf-based online NRI follow the Indian sports content significantly
more regularly. At the same time, the gulf-based online NRI follow
Indian movies, music and fashion also somewhat more regularly than
the west-based NRI.
Online NRI are also significantly older in age than online Indians in
India. While two-third of the online Indians in India (70%) are below 30
years of age, only about one-third online NRI (39%) are below 30 years
in age.
This dominance of NRI from South India among the online NRI is because
of their very heavy presence in Gulf, where every 2 out of 3 online NRI
7
NRI Online 2006
In sum, by and large the online NRI are highly connected with India,
both because of their strong ‘family linkages’ back home as well as
their high levels of concern about the ‘progress’ of their homeland. In
this, the gulf-based online NRI are noticeably more linked to India than
the west-based ones and understandably so.
The gulf-based online NRI are significantly more the ‘bread earners’ of
their families back home. Accordingly their stakes and involvement
levels are higher, both emotionally and financially. Further, they are
much closer to India both in time and distance. The perceived
‘proximity’ also makes them connect with the homeland with more
regularity, be it connecting physically, in communication, or in seeking
information and entertainment content about India.
Though the west-based online NRI prefer to stay connected with India
using the Internet relatively more, and may be classified as the more
‘online NRI’ per se, in effect they connect with India on the net only as
regularly as the gulf ones do.
8
NRI Online 2006
Detailed Findings
9
NRI Online 2006
Non Residential
Status
Region of residence
In this report, the online NRI have been grouped into 2 main clusters -
gulf country based NRI and western countries based NRI. This has been
done to capture the two ‘distinct’ and really big NRI markets and
compare and contrast their motivations and usage of Internet to stay
connected with India.
The final NRI groups with their sample bases as reported are:
West-based NRI – US, Canada, Central America, Western Europe,
Australia (Sample base – 502)
Gulf-based NRI - Middle East (Sample base – 859)
Other NRI – South & South East Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa, South
America (Sample base – 270)
Base: 1,631
10
NRI Online 2006
Visa status
While almost 9 out of 10 gulf-based online NRI (86%) have resident visas
with work permit, only 1 in 4 west-based online NRI is has a resident
visa with work permit. This difference is largely because almost 1 in 2
online NRI from the western countries (52%) has already acquired a
local citizen or has a special residential status like green card.
Base: 1,631
11
NRI Online 2006
East 6% 3% 4% 5%
Base: 1,631
12
NRI Online 2006
Mumbai 6% 11% 7% 8%
Chennai 5% 7% 8% 7%
Delhi 9% 3% 5% 6%
Bangalore 5% 5% 5% 5%
Thiruvananthapuram 2% 7% 6% 5%
Ludhiana 7% 0.1% 2% 3%
Base: 1,631
13
NRI Online 2006
Native language
Malayalam tops as the native language of 40% of online gulf NRI’s. It is
followed by Urdu, Tamil and Hindi in that order.
Punjabi 21% 1% 3% 9%
Telugu 11% 4% 7% 7%
Gujrati 10% 3% 6% 6%
Kannada 5% 4% 3% 4%
Konkani 0.8% 5% 2% 3%
Marathi 3% 2% 2% 2%
Base: 1,631
14
NRI Online 2006
60%
40%
28%
19% 19%
20% 12%
0%
West-Based Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
NRI
Base: 1,631
15
NRI Online 2006
Age distribution
Online NRI are significantly older in age than online Indians in India.
While two-third of the online Indians (70%) in India are below 30 years
of age, only about one-third online NRI (39%) are below 30 years in age.
In fact even among the west-based online NRI, only 1 in 2 (47%) of them
are under 30 years of age. Almost 3 out of four gulf-based online NRI
are over 30 years of age.
61%
58%
60% 53%
47%
42%
39%
40%
29%
20%
0%
West-Based NRI Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
Base: 1,631
16
NRI Online 2006
Marital status
Though western online NRI are relatively younger in age, yet even 2 out
of 3 of them (68%) are married. 78% of gulf-based online NRI are also
married.
Single Married
80% 78%
68% 69%
62%
60%
40% 35%
31% 29%
21%
20%
0%
West-Based NRI Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
Base: 1,631
17
NRI Online 2006
Family size
West-based online NRI have proportionately smaller size families.
Almost 1 in 3 west-based online NRI (33%) has a family size up to 2
members in the family. In comparison only 18% of gulf-based online NRI
have family size of 2 or less.
82% 82%
77%
80%
68%
60%
40% 33%
23%
18% 18%
20%
0%
West-Based NRI Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
Average: 3.2 3.5 3.6 3.4
Base: 1,631
18
NRI Online 2006
Only 1 in 5 west-
based online NRI is a
‘techie’
Educational Qualification
Proportionately as many online NRI from gulf are professionally
qualified as from the western countries. Only 1 in 5 online NRI has a
professional education/qualification, irrespective of whether they are
west-based or gulf-based.
Doctorate 6% 0.7% 2% 3%
Base: 1,631
19
NRI Online 2006
Occupation
Gulf-based online NRI work significantly more in the corporate sector.
Two out of 3 of them work as corporate employees of various levels. In
comparison, only 1 in 3 west-based online NRI (31%) work as a corporate
employee.
But most importantly, a bulk 40% of west-based online NRI come under
unemployed/semi-employed categories (students, housewives,
unspecified others) whereas only 17% of gulf-based online NRI come
under these unemployed/semi-employed categories.
70% 67%
60%
50% 45%
40%
37%
40% 31% 33%
30%
30% 21% 21%
17% 18%
20% 13%
7% 8% 6%
10% 3%
0%
West-Based NRI Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
Businessmen Self Employed Professionals
Corporate Executives Others
Base: 1,631
20
NRI Online 2006
Functional background
The west-based online NRI come relatively more from the IT sector
(21%) in comparison to the gulf-based ones (11%).
40% 36%
32% 33%
30%
30%
21%
20% 14%
11% 11%
10%
0%
West-Based NRI Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
Base: 1,631
21
NRI Online 2006
West-based online
NRI are economically
better off
Household Incomes
West-based online NRI earn significantly more than. Almost 4 out of 10
of them have monthly incomes over US$ 5,000. In comparison, only 14%
gulf-based online NRI have such high level of incomes. In fact, almost
half of the gulf-based online NRI have monthly incomes of less than US$
2,000. Only a quarter of online western NRI have such low incomes.
50% 49%
48%
30%
25% 24%
18%
20%
14%
10%
0%
West-Based NRI Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
Base: 1,631
22
NRI Online 2006
Vehicle ownerships
While 3 out of 4 west-based online NRI (71%) own a car, only 1 in 2 gulf-
based online NRI own a car (53%).
In all about 58% of online NRI own a car, almost the double of what
online Indians in India own (27%).
60%
53% 58%
50%
50%
40%
30% 32%
23% 27% 26%
20% 20%
16%
9% 15%
10%
0%
West-Based NRI Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
Base: 1,631
23
NRI Online 2006
Gulf-based online
NRI are more
connected with India
Emotional Connectivity
Motivation for Staying Connected with India
Family connection is what essentially keeps online NRI hooked to India.
40%
3% 5% 3%
2%
0%
West-Based NRI Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
Base: 1,631
24
NRI Online 2006
This is in contrast to role models the online Indians living in India have.
Online Indians see business, sports and cinema celebrities like Amitabh
Bachchan, Dhirubahi Ambani, Sachin Tendulkar or Shah Rukh Khan as
the bigger role models in their lives (apart from their parents).
Role Models West-Based NRI Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
A P J Abdul Kalam 7% 12% 4% 8%
Mahatma Gandhi 6% 5% 9% 7%
Dr Manmohan Singh 4% 4% 3% 4%
Amitabh Bacchan 3% 3% 4% 3%
Father 3% 3% 3% 3%
Sachin Tendulkar 3% 1% 3% 2%
Mother Teresa 2% 2% 1% 2%
Base: 1,631
25
NRI Online 2006
Physical connectivity
Travel to India for Personal Reasons
Online NRI travel to India more frequently for personal reasons, with
almost 2 out 3 of them (69%) visiting India at least once in 3 months for
this reason.
Online NRI travel relatively more with their families when traveling to
India for personal reasons. Two out of 3 west-based online NRI (63%)
travel with family on such occasions while only 1 in 2 gulf-based online
NRI (50%) does so.
100%
81%
80% 73%
69%
60% 54%
40% 35%
23%
17% 18%
20% 11% 9%
8%
2%
0%
West-Based NRI Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
Base: 1,631
26
NRI Online 2006
Here again the gulf-based online NRI travel more frequently with 41% of
them traveling at least once in 3 months. In comparison, only 27% of
west-based NRI travel to India that frequently for professional reasons.
60%
53%
48%
41%
38% 41%
40% 39%
31%
27%
20% 21% 21% 21%
20%
0%
West-Based NRI Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
Base: 1,631
27
NRI Online 2006
Communication connectivity
Phone Calls for Personal Reason
Online NRI call India significantly more for personal reasons than for
professional reasons.
While 1 in 4 online NRI (28%) calls India for personal reasons at least
once a day, another 56% call at least once a week.
The gulf-based online NRI call India relatively more frequently, with
92% of them calling India at least once a week for personal reasons (80%
of west-based NRI also do so).
80%
59% 64%
60% 56%
46%
40%
28% 32% 28%
23%
23% 19% 16%
20%
8%
0%
West-Based NRI Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
Base: 1,631
28
NRI Online 2006
The online NRI of both the groups call almost equally infrequently to
India for professional reasons.
80% 72%
67% 66%
59%
60%
40%
22% 21% 21% 20%
18% 14%
20% 11% 11%
0%
West-Based Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
NRI
Base: 1,631
29
NRI Online 2006
Chart 16: Send or Receive E-Mails From/To India for Personal Reasons
10%
0%
West-Based NRI Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
Base: 1,631
30
NRI Online 2006
60% 59%
52% 53%
47%
50%
40%
27%
30% 25%23% 25% 24%23%
21%21%
20%
10%
0%
West-Based NRI Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
Base: 1,631
31
NRI Online 2006
Informational connectivity
Medium used for staying updated on India
While 2 out of 3 west-based NRI (64%) prefer to stay updated with
happenings in India using the Internet more, only about 1 in 3 gulf-
based online NRI (39%) prefers to do so.
30%
21%
19%
20% 16%
13% 13%
10%
0%
West-Based NRI Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
Base: 1,631
32
NRI Online 2006
80% 86%
72% 69%
60% 50%
40% 29%
21% 18% 18%
20% 11% 13%
7% 7%
0%
West-Based Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
NRI
Base: 1,631
33
NRI Online 2006
While 81% of gulf-based online NRI read about India in the print medium
daily only 60% of the west-based ones do so daily.
80% 81%
69%
66%
60%
60%
40%
22%
18% 17%16% 17%
20% 13% 14%
6%
0%
West-Based NRI Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
Base: 1,631
34
NRI Online 2006
Between the two online NRI groups, the gulf-based ones surf the net as
regularly as the west-based ones to check Indian content (56% versus
54% respectively), though they use the offline mediums significantly
more than the west-based ones to watch or read about India.
40%
10%
0%
West-Based NRI Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
Base: 1,631
35
NRI Online 2006
Interest Areas West-Based NRI Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
Economic Progress 58% 63% 53% 58%
Others 7% 4% 9% 7%
Base: 1,629
36
NRI Online 2006
Entertainment Connectivity
Indian Movies
Only 1 in 3 online NRI (35%) watch Indian movies on a daily basis.
50%
42%
40% 40%
40% 39%38%
36%
31% 35%
20%
10%
0%
West-Based NRI Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
Base: 1,631
37
NRI Online 2006
Indian sports
Again only 1 in 3 online NRI (36%) watch Indian sports on a daily basis.
The gulf-based online NRI follow the Indian sports content significantly
more regularly, with 47% of them doing so everyday. In comparison,
only 22% of the west-based NRI check Indian sports content everyday.
60%
51%
50%
47%
40%
40% 36% 34%
31% 30%30% 29%
30% 27%
22%
22%
20%
10%
0%
West-Based Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
NRI
Base: 1,631
38
NRI Online 2006
Indian music
However, a significantly higher 3 out of 4 online NRI (75%) listens to
Indian music everyday.
The gulf-based online NRI listen to Indian music also noticeably more
regularly. While 77% of them listen to Indian music on a daily basis, a
relatively lower 70% of the west-based NRI listen to Indian music
everyday.
60%
40%
0%
West-Based NRI Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
Base: 1,631
39
NRI Online 2006
Indian fashion
The proportion of online NRI who check Indian fashion on a daily basis
are the least at only 17%.
The gulf-based online NRI also follow the Indian fashion trends
marginally more regularly than the west-based online NRI. While 16% of
gulf-based online NRI follow Indian fashion trend on a daily basis, only a
marginally lower 13% of west-based ones also do so.
70% 65%
62% 60%
60% 54%
50%
40%
0%
West-Based NRI Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
Base: 1,631
40
NRI Online 2006
Financial connectivity
Current ownerships of assets in India
Almost 2 out of 3 online NRI already have bank accounts and houses
back in India (almost 70% have each). One in 2 (51%) also owns some
land. Only 1 in 5 (21%) has invested money in shares in India.
Among the two groups of online NRI, the gulf-based ones not only show
relatively higher current ownership of both physical and financial assets
in India.
Others 5% 5% 3% 4%
Base: 1,555
41
NRI Online 2006
Others 4% 5% 3% 4%
Base: 1,531
42
NRI Online 2006
100%
87%
80%
65% 66%
60%
47%
40% 32%
21% 22% 20%
13% 14%
20% 8% 5%
0%
West-Based Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
NRI
Base: 1,631
43
NRI Online 2006
This higher preference for banking modes by the gulf-based online NRI
may have something to do with the fact that they remit money to India
much more frequently.
50%
43%
40% 38% 37% 36% 39%
33% 32%
29%
30% 27%
25% 24%
19%
20%
10%
0%
West-Based Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
NRI
Base: 1,631
On the whole, all this data clearly suggests that the gulf-based online
NRI not only show higher physical, financial and communication
connectivity with India but also more informational and entertainment-
related connectivity as well. It is only in emotional connectivity that
the west-based online NRI are almost equally glued to India.
44
NRI Online 2006
Though fairly high proportions of both group of online NRI use the
Internet daily (97% and 94% respectively), a noticeably higher
proportion of west-based online NRI (80%) access the net several times
a day. Only 71% of gulf-based ones access it several times a day.
100%
80%
80% 69%
71%
57%
60%
40%
28%
23% 23%
20% 17%
8%
2% 2% 3%
0%
West-Based Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
NRI
Base: 975
45
NRI Online 2006
With 87% of them using the net already for 2 years or more, the gulf-
based online NRI are marginally more experienced net users than the
west-based ones, only 84% of whom have that level of net usage
experience. This could be largely because the west-based online NRI
have a significantly higher proportion of students and non-working users
in their base, while gulf-based online NRI are mostly the working ones.
60%
40% 34%
20%
16% 13%
20%
0%
West-Based Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
NRI
Base: 975
46
NRI Online 2006
Only 1 out of 3 gulf-based online NRI (33%) come from a household that
has more than 2 members in the household using the net. In comparison
45% of west-based online NRI come from such households.
80%
67%
60% 59%
55% 52%
45% 48% 41%
40%
33%
20%
0%
West-Based NRI Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
Base: 975
47
NRI Online 2006
Further, whether based in the gulf or in the west, online NRI use the
net mainly from home or office. Very few of them access the net from
cyber cafes. Only 4% of west-based online NRI and 14% of gulf-based
ones access the net from cyber cafes. On the whole, though both the
groups access the net from distinct places, the fact remains that both
the groups access the net equally regularly.
40%
19%
20% 14% 12%
4%
0%
West-Based Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
NRI
Base: 975
48
NRI Online 2006
On the whole, only 1 in 2 online NRI (48%) who use the Internet from
home has a broadband connection at home. Interestingly, this is
marginally lower than the proportion of online Indians using the
Internet from home with broadband access (52%).
60%
48%
47% 42%
40%
26% 30%
25% 25%28%
20% 18%
11%
6%
0%
West-Based NRI Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
Base: 975
49
NRI Online 2006
60%
40% 35%
21% 24%
20% 14%
0%
West-Based NRI Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
Base: 838
50
NRI Online 2006
Gulf-based online NRI are almost as heavy users of the net from office
as the west-based ones (37% to 39% of both groups' NRI use the net for
more than 2 hours a day on an average from the office).
37% 39%
36%
40%
31%
20%
0%
West-Based Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
NRI
Base: 781
51
NRI Online 2006
80%
60%
40%
20% 10%
7% 6%
3%
0%
West-Based Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
NRI
Base: 830
52
NRI Online 2006
In other words, while only 10% of the west-based online NRI who use
the Internet to check Indian content from office do so for more than 2
hours a day, a noticeably higher 20% of the gulf-based online NRI who
use the Internet to check Indian content from office do so for more
than 2 hours a day.
80%
60%
40%
20%
8% 8% 7%
4%
0%
West-Based Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
NRI
Base: 720
53
NRI Online 2006
Base: 975
54
NRI Online 2006
While only 1 in 2 gulf-based online NRI (50%) has ever bought online, 3
out of 4 west-based online NRI (73%) have bought online.
West-based ones are the more regular online shoppers as well. Against
only 24% of the gulf-based online NRI shopping online at least once a
month, an almost double that proportion of west-based online NRI (42%)
shop online that frequently.
50%
50% 45%
42% 41%
40%
31% 31%
29% 28%
30% 27% 26% 26%
24%
20%
10%
0%
West-Based NRI Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
Base: 975
55
NRI Online 2006
While only 1 in 2 west-based online NRI (49%) has ever shopped from an
Indian website, 40% of the gulf-based ones have also shopped from
Indian websites.
So proportionately more gulf-based online NRI who buy online buy from
the Indian websites. That is, 82% of gulf-based NRI who buy online also
buy from an Indian websites, while only 70% of west-based NRI who buy
online also buys from an Indian website.
60%
60% 56%
60%
49%
40% 33%
28% 28%
22%
19%
20% 18% 16%
13%
0%
West-Based NRI Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
Base: 975
56
NRI Online 2006
Chart 39: Average Monthly Spends When Buying from Indian Websites
70%
65%
60% 58%
60%
50%
50% 45%
27%
30%
20%
8% 6%
10% 5%
5%
0%
West-Based NRI Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
Base: 975
57
NRI Online 2006
The other popularly bought online products from the Indian websites
are CD and DVDs, books and magazines, gifts and travel and tour
packages.
Between the two groups, the products that the west-based online NRI
buy relatively more from Indian websites are CD and dvds, gifts for
relatives in India, Indian spices and food, jewelry and handicraft items.
On the other hand, the items that the gulf-based online NRI buy
relatively more from these websites are only books and magazines.
Perfumes 7% 5% 12% 8%
Furniture / Fixtures 5% 2% 4% 4%
Base: 939
58
NRI Online 2006
Website Preferences
for Indian Content
Most visited Indian website
At the overall level, online NRI from both the groups visit the website
of Rediff and Times of India the most for checking content about India.
Google 7% 4% 12% 7%
Indiatimes 5% 7% 7% 6%
Kerala 2% 4% 10% 5%
Deepika 3% 6% 5% 5%
NDTV 3% 7% 3% 5%
Sify 5% 4% 4% 4%
Samachar 8% 2% 3% 4%
Base: 860
59
NRI Online 2006
Table 13: Top 10 Most Preferred Indian Website for Searching Info on
India
Yahoo 7% 9% 13% 9%
Rediff 8% 7% 5% 7%
Timesofindia 8% 8% 4% 7%
Indiainfo 4% 5% 4% 5%
India 4% 4% 4% 4%
Indiatimes 3% 4% 4% 4%
Malayammanorama 2% 5% 3% 4%
Kerala 0.9% 4% 3% 3%
Hinduonnet 3% 2% 3% 2%
Base: 777
60
NRI Online 2006
News on India
The website of Times of India clearly leads among both the groups of
online NRI when it comes to checking news and events happening in
India.
Table 14: Top 10 Most Preferred Indian Website for Checking News on
India
Rediff 7% 8% 4% 7%
Yahoo 4% 7% 10% 6%
Thehindu 7% 3% 8% 6%
Deepika 3% 8% 7% 6%
NDTV 4% 7% 6% 6%
Google 6% 3% 7% 5%
Indiatimes 4% 5% 3% 4%
Sify 3% 2% 5% 3%
Samachar 7% 2% 0.9% 3%
Base: 761
61
NRI Online 2006
Table 15: Top 10 Most Preferred Indian Website for Searching Jobs in
India
Yahoo 4% 6% 9% 6%
Google 5% 5% 9% 6%
Timesjobs 2% 7% 5% 5%
Jobs 4% 6% 3% 4%
Jobsindia 0.5% 2% 6% 3%
Rediff 2% 2% 2% 2%
Timesofindia 3% 2% 0.9% 2%
Jobsahead 1% 2% 2% 2%
Base: 761
62
NRI Online 2006
Table 16: Top 10 Most Preferred Indian Website for Making Friendships
in India
Google 8% 6% 7% 7%
MSN 6% 7% 6% 7%
Rediff 6% 9% 3% 6%
Fropper 2% 1% 6% 3%
Friendfinder 2% 4% 3% 3%
Friends 1% 4% 4% 3%
India 3% 1% 5% 3%
Indiatimes 2% 4% 3% 3%
Kerala 0.0% 4% 4% 3%
Base: 620
63
NRI Online 2006
Matrimony
Shaadi is the most preferred one by all online NRI when it comes to
matrimonial search.
Table 17: Top 10 Most Preferred Indian Website for Matrimonial Search
in India
Matrimony 4% 3% 11% 6%
Yahoo 3% 3% 9% 5%
Jeevansathi 2% 4% 5% 3%
Indianmatrimony 4% 2% 5% 3%
Google 2% 0.8% 4% 2%
Sify 2% 0.4% 2% 1%
Rediff 2% 1% 0.0% 1%
Base: 758
64
NRI Online 2006
Table 18: Top 10 Most Preferred Indian Website for Booking Travel
Tickets to India
Yahoo 4% 8% 13% 8%
Makemytrip 14% 5% 4% 7%
Indianairlines 4% 8% 7% 6%
Indiatimes 4% 5% 7% 5%
Google 6% 2% 9% 5%
Travelguru 5% 3% 4% 4%
Emirates 0.5% 2% 9% 4%
Rediff 4% 5% 0.0% 3%
Jetairways 3% 2% 2% 2%
Base: 687
65
NRI Online 2006
While Ebay is relatively more popular among the west-based online NRI,
among the gulf-based ones it is Indiatimes.
Table 19: Top 10 Most Preferred Indian Website for Shopping of Indian
Products and Services
Sify 5% 5% 6% 5%
Google 3% 5% 8% 5%
MSN 2% 4% 5% 4%
Onlineshopping 4% 2% 4% 3%
Shopping 2% 3% 3% 3%
Amazon 4% 1% 0.0% 2%
Base: 594
66
NRI Online 2006
There is a clear indication here that no real estate specific websites has
really been able to make a mark among the online NRI in any significant
way.
Table 20: Top 10 Most Preferred Indian Website for Checking Real
Estate Info in India
Yahoo 6% 7% 15% 9%
Realestate 8% 5% 7% 7%
Rediff 7% 7% 3% 6%
Keralarealestate 2% 7% 8% 6%
Timesofindia 4% 7% 7% 6%
Manoramaonline 2% 8% 6% 6%
Sulekha 8% 4% 3% 5%
Indiarealestate 2% 6% 4% 4%
Indiatimes 2% 4% 3% 3%
Base: 619
67
NRI Online 2006
Table 21: Top 10 Most Preferred Indian Website for Searching Indian
Cinema Content
Google 6% 5% 11% 7%
Yahoo 4% 7% 9% 7%
Rediff 5% 9% 4% 6%
Timesofindia 6% 6% 5% 6%
Malayammanorma 2% 7% 7% 5%
Indiatimes 3% 7% 5% 5%
Sify 4% 4% 4% 4%
Cinema 5% 3% 4% 4%
Indiafm 5% 5% 1% 4%
Base: 626
68
NRI Online 2006
Table 22: Top 10 Most Preferred Indian Website for Searching Indian
Sports Content
Yahoo 6% 8% 10% 8%
Rediff 8% 8% 7% 8%
Timesofindia 6% 8% 7% 7%
Sports 4% 5% 5% 5%
Google 6% 3% 6% 5%
NDTV 3% 6% 6% 5%
Indiatimes 2% 5% 4% 4%
Sify 2% 5% 4% 4%
Manoramaonline 0.5% 4% 7% 4%
Base: 730
69
NRI Online 2006
Indian music
Raaga leads the pack of online Indian music websites. However, Raaga
is far more popular among the online NRI from the west than it is with
the gulf-based online NRI. Among the gulf-based ones, Yahoo and
Indiatimes are also almost equally popular for downloading Indian
music.
Table 23: Top 10 Most Preferred Indian Website for Downloading Indian
Music
Google 5% 5% 7% 5%
Indiatimes 4% 4% 6% 5%
Manoramaonline 1% 6% 6% 4%
Rediff 4% 5% 2% 4%
Smashit 6% 2% 3% 4%
Hindimusic 3% 4% 3% 3%
Base: 630
70
NRI Online 2006
Indian fashion
Indiafashion is the noticeable leader in the Indian fashion category.
Table 24: Top 10 Most Preferred Indian Website for Checking Fashion
Trends in India
Yahoo 6% 8% 14% 9%
Google 11% 7% 9% 9%
Timesofindia 8% 7% 7% 7%
Indiatimes 3% 8% 9% 7%
Fashion 5% 8% 3% 6%
Femina 3% 4% 4% 4%
Manoramaonline 0.6% 5% 4% 4%
Sify 4% 4% 1% 3%
Base: 584
71
NRI Online 2006
Online games
For downloading games Yahoo is the overwhelming favorite among all
the online NRI.
Games 9% 9% 6% 8%
MSN 3% 4% 9% 5%
Rediff 6% 5% 0.0% 4%
Miniclip 3% 3% 3% 3%
Sify 7% 1% 1% 3%
Indiagames 5% 2% 1% 3%
Download 3% 3% 1% 2%
Base: 546
72
NRI Online 2006
Emailing
Yahoo again leads the pack by a big margin when it comes to the
preference of online NRI for using an email id. Hotmail and Gmail
follow here as distant second and third.
Rediff 8% 9% 7% 8%
Indiatimes 4% 5% 1% 4%
Sify 1% 2% 2% 2%
Base: 942
73
NRI Online 2006
Offline media
preferences for
Indian content
Indian TV channels
Asianet comes out as the most popular TV channel overall among the
online NRI primarily because of its very high popularity among the gulf-
based online NRI at 27%.
Sahara 4% 7% 7% 6%
NDTV 3% 5% 4% 4%
Doordarshan 3% 3% 6% 4%
Kairali 1% 5% 5% 3%
ETV 3% 2% 2% 2%
Base: 869
74
NRI Online 2006
News Channels West-Based NRI Gulf-Based NRI Other NRI All NRI
NDTV 15% 18% 19% 17%
DD News 3% 6% 4% 4%
Sahara 2% 6% 2% 4%
Sun News 4% 3% 2% 3%
Kairali 0.0% 5% 3% 3%
ETV 4% 0.9% 2% 2%
Base: 869
75
NRI Online 2006
Indian newspapers
Among the newspapers, Times of India is the clear leader with both the
groups of online NRI.
Indian Express 9% 7% 8% 8%
Deepika 2% 8% 5% 5%
Dinamalar 3% 3% 3% 3%
Mathrubhumi 0.4% 2% 5% 2%
Siasat 3% 0.7% 4% 2%
Base: 866
76
NRI Online 2006
Indian magazines
India Today is the overwhelming favorite magazine among all the online
NRI.
While Vanitha and The Week are also fairly popular among the gulf-
based online NRI, surprisingly Stardust emerges as the second most
popular magazine among the west-based online NRI.
Star Dust 8% 5% 7% 7%
Outlook 4% 6% 5% 5%
Vanita 1% 9% 2% 4%
Femina 5% 3% 4% 4%
Film Fare 3% 5% 2% 4%
Kumudam 2% 3% 4% 3%
Times 4% 1% 3% 3%
Sport Star 2% 2% 3% 2%
Base: 755
77
NRI Online 2006
Index
78
NRI Online 2006
Index: Charts
Chart 1: Region of Current or Permanent Residence ..............10
Chart 2: Visa Status .....................................................11
Chart 3: Gender Representation ......................................15
Chart 4: Distribution by Age Group ...................................16
Chart 5: Marital Status..................................................17
Chart 6: Size of the Family They Represent.........................18
Chart 7: Occupational Break Up.......................................20
Chart 8: Field of Functional/Occupational Background ...........21
Chart 9: Distribution by Monthly Income of the Household.......22
Chart 10: Most Expensive Vehicle Owned by the Household .....23
Chart 11: Motivation to Stay Connected with India ................24
Chart 12: Frequency of Visit to India for Personal Reasons.......26
Chart 13: Frequency of Visit to India for Professional Reasons ..27
Chart 14: Frequency of Calling India for Personal Reasons .......28
Chart 15: Frequency of Calling India for Professional Reasons...29
Chart 16: Send or Receive E-Mails From/To India for Personal
Reasons....................................................................30
Chart 17: Send Or Receive E-Mails From/To India for Professional
Reasons....................................................................31
Chart 18: Preferred Medium to Follow Happenings in India ......32
Chart 19: Frequency of Watching Indian TV Programs ............33
Chart 20: Frequency of Reading Indian Newspaper & Magazines 34
Chart 21: Frequency of Surfing Indian Content on Internet ......35
Chart 22: Frequency of Watching Indian Movies....................37
Chart 23: Frequency of Watching Indian Sports ....................38
Chart 24: Frequency of Listening to Indian Music ..................39
Chart 25: Frequency of Checking Out Fashion Trends in India ...40
Chart 26: Frequency of Remitting Money to India .................43
Chart 27: Preferred Mode of Remitting Money to India ...........44
Chart 28: Frequency of Using Internet ...............................45
Chart 29: Years of Experience in Using Internet ...................46
Chart 30: Number of Family Member Using the Internet..........47
Chart 31: Place of Accessing Internet ................................48
Chart 32: Type of Internet Connection at Home ...................49
Chart 33: Time Spent on Internet at Home .........................50
Chart 34: Time Spent on Internet at Office .........................51
Chart 35: Time Spent on Internet at Home to Check Indian
Content ...................................................................52
Chart 36: Time Spent on Internet at Office to Check Indian
Content ...................................................................53
Chart 37: Frequency of Buying Online ...............................55
Chart 38: Frequency of Buying Online on Indian Websites........56
Chart 39: Average Monthly Spends When Buying from Indian
Websites ..................................................................57
79
NRI Online 2006
Index: Tables
Table 1: Sample Distribution ........................................... 4
Table 2: Regional Distribution by Place of Origin in India ........12
Table 3: Top 10 Cities by Place of Origin............................13
Table 4: Top 10 Native Languages ....................................14
Table 5: Highest Level of Education..................................19
Table 6: Top Ten Indian Role Models of Online NRI................25
Table 7: Happenings in India NRI Want to Stay Updated On......36
Table 8: Current Asset Ownerships in India .........................41
Table 9: Plans for Future Financial Investments in India .........42
Table 10: Indian Content Sought Online More ......................54
Table 11: Products Or Services Bought from Indian Websites....58
Table 12: Top 10 Most Preferred Indian Website Overall .........59
Table 13: Top 10 Most Preferred Indian Website for Searching
Info on India ..............................................................60
Table 14: Top 10 Most Preferred Indian Website for Checking
News on India ............................................................61
Table 15: Top 10 Most Preferred Indian Website for Searching
Jobs in India ..............................................................62
Table 16: Top 10 Most Preferred Indian Website for Making
Friendships in India......................................................63
Table 17: Top 10 Most Preferred Indian Website for Matrimonial
Search in India ...........................................................64
Table 18: Top 10 Most Preferred Indian Website for Booking
Travel Tickets to India..................................................65
Table 19: Top 10 Most Preferred Indian Website for Online
Shopping of Indian Products and Services ...........................66
Table 20: Top 10 Most Preferred Indian Website for Checking
Real Estate Info in India ................................................67
Table 21: Top 10 Most Preferred Indian Website for Searching
Indian Cinema Content .................................................68
Table 22: Top 10 Most Preferred Indian Website for Searching
Indian Sports Content ...................................................69
Table 23: Top 10 Most Preferred Indian Website for Downloading
Indian Music ..............................................................70
Table 24: Top 10 Most Preferred Indian Website for Checking
Fashion Trends in India .................................................71
Table 25: Top 10 Most Preferred Website for Downloading Games
.............................................................................72
Table 26: Most Preferred Website for Emailing ....................73
Table 27: Top 10 Most Preferred TV Channel from India .........74
Table 28: Top 10 Most Preferred TV News Channel from India ..75
Table 29: Top 10 Most Preferred Newspaper from India ..........76
Table 30: Most Preferred Magazine from India .....................77
80
NRI Online 2006
Index: Detailed
Table of Content
NRI Online 2006 ........................................................... 1
Key Information Areas Covered .................................... 2
Methodology ............................................................... 3
Executive Summary ...................................................... 5
‘Family connection’ is largely what keeps online NRI hooked
to India ............................................................ 5
Gulf-based online NRI are more connected with India......... 5
West-based online NRI connect more online .................... 5
Both groups keep a keen eye on India’s economic progress .. 6
Online NRI show high level of keenness to invest in India..... 6
Gulf ones prefer to remit money more through the banking
channels........................................................... 6
West-based NRI are generally the heavier users of the net,
but not the heavier users of Indian content on the net ... 7
For entertainment, online NRI connect with Indian music the
most ............................................................... 7
Online NRI are largely mature males ............................. 7
Half the online NRI are South Indians in origin.................. 7
Only 1 in 5 west-based online NRI is a ‘Techie’................. 8
An equal proportion of gulf-based online NRI are
professionally qualified......................................... 8
But gulf-based online NRI have significantly lower incomes .. 8
Non Residential Status ..................................................10
Region of residence.................................................10
Visa status............................................................11
Half the online NRI are South Indians in origin .....................12
Indian regions they come from ...................................12
City of origin in India ...............................................13
Native language .....................................................14
Online NRI are largely mature males .................................15
Gender ................................................................15
Age distribution .....................................................16
Marital status ........................................................17
Family size ...........................................................18
Only 1 in 5 west-based online NRI is a ‘techie’.....................19
Educational Qualification ..........................................19
Occupation ...........................................................20
Functional background .............................................21
81
NRI Online 2006
82
NRI Online 2006
83