Yakten

 

Yakten: India’s First Digital Nomad Village – A Model of Rural Tech-Driven Tourism

✍️ By Suryavanshi IAS | 📅 14 July 2025

 Context:

On July 14, 2025, Yakten, a scenic village in Pakyong district, Sikkim, was officially declared India’s first Digital Nomad Village under the ‘Nomad Sikkim’ initiative. This move marks a historic shift in India’s rural development and tourism strategy — blending technology, sustainability, and remote work culture.

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📍 About the Initiative:

🧩 Key Partners:

• Pakyong District Administration

• Sarvahitey NGO

• Under the state-level plan: ‘Nomad Sikkim’

🏔️ Location:

• Yakten Village, ~32 km from Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim

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💻 Objectives of the Digital Nomad Village Project:

1. Promote rural digital infrastructure

2. Attract remote workers (freelancers, techies, creators) from across India and abroad

3. Create year-round sustainable income for homestay operators

4. Address seasonal income vulnerability in the tourism sector

5. Strengthen community-based rural tourism

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🛠️ What Has Been Implemented:

Facilities Provided	Details
Wi-Fi	Village-wide, with two internet lines
Electricity	Inverters provided for backup
Water (Planned)	Under Jal Jeevan Mission
Promotion of Homestay Economy	Boosting livelihood during off-season

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🧠 Why Yakten?

• Natural beauty + Proximity to Gangtok

• Existing but underutilized homestay ecosystem

• Seasonal slump in tourist inflow (April to October = lean period)

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📢 Voices from the Ground:

• Rohan Ramesh, Pakyong DC: "Remote workers will come if we give stable internet and power."

• Gyan Bahadur Subba, Village Tourism Society President: "We hope this ends the income struggle of homestay owners."

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🌍 Relevance to UPSC Topics:

GS Paper II – Governance & Social Justice

• Digital India in rural areas

• Local governance partnerships with NGOs

• Role of state governments in rural transformation

GS Paper III – Infrastructure & Inclusive Growth

• Rural internet & electricity

• Tourism-based employment

• Jal Jeevan Mission in mountainous terrain

• Sustainable development in ecologically sensitive areas

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🔍 Critical Analysis for UPSC:

✅ Opportunities:

• Decentralisation of remote work from urban centres to rural spaces

• Promotion of eco-conscious digital tourism

• Empowerment of local communities, especially women running homestays

• Tech-led rural economy model that can be replicated across India

❌ Challenges:

• Water scarcity in high-altitude villages

• Waste management with growing footfall

• Risk of cultural dilution due to external influences

• Dependence on consistent tech and power infrastructure

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📝 Previous Year UPSC Questions:

🔸 Prelims 2023

Q. With reference to rural tourism in India, consider the following statements:

1. It promotes community-based ecotourism.

2. It is included as a component of the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.

3. It has no linkage with Digital India programme.

Which of the above statements are correct?

A) 1 and 2 only ✅

B) 2 and 3 only

C) 1 and 3 only

D) All of the above

Explanation: Digital India is linked via infrastructure and connectivity. Statement 3 is incorrect.

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🔹 Mains 2022 – GS Paper I

Q. Discuss the challenges and opportunities of rural tourism in India with suitable examples.

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💡 Likely Mains Questions (Practice):

🔸 GS Paper II:

Q. How can digital infrastructure empower rural communities in India? Illustrate with examples like the Digital Nomad Village project of Sikkim.

🔹 Essay:

"Technology is the new bridge between the Himalayas and the World."

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🧾 Initiatives You Should Link in Answers:

• Digital India

• Startup India

• Jal Jeevan Mission

• Mission Shakti (Women Empowerment)

• Swadesh Darshan 2.0

• Responsible Tourism Guidelines

• Atmanirbhar Bharat – Rural India focus

• UN SDGs – Goal 8 (Decent Work), Goal 9 (Infrastructure), Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities & Communities)

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🔍 UPSC Keywords for Prelims & Notes:

• Yakten

• Digital Nomad Village

• Sarvahitey NGO

• Homestay economy

• Rural Wi-Fi

• Jal Jeevan Mission

• Off-season tourism

• Nomad Sikkim initiative

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📘 Conclusion by Suryavanshi IAS:

The Yakten Digital Nomad Village is not just a rural development model, but a template for Digital India’s reach into the remotest corners. For UPSC aspirants, it offers a perfect case study to connect themes of technology, tourism, governance, and grassroots economy.

🧭 Let this be a reminder: Innovation in public policy doesn’t always begin in metros; sometimes, it begins in a Himalayan hamlet with Wi-Fi and hope.