If you have ever checked your bank statement on net banking, searched for a train on IRCTC, downloaded a marksheet from DigiLocker, or tracked an income-tax refund, you have almost certainly seen a tiny dropdown that says “Rows per page” or “Show entries” with options like 10 | 25 | 50 | 100.
That innocent-looking feature is used by millions of Indians every single day — yet very few know why it exists, how it affects speed and data usage, and why government and banking portals still default to just 10 rows even in 2025.
Here’s your complete, easy-to-understand guide to this everyday tech term.
What Exactly Does “Rows Per Page” Mean?
In simple words:
When a website has to show a long list (hundreds or thousands of transactions, results, or records), it does not load everything at once. It breaks the list into smaller chunks called “pages”.
“Rows per page” decides how many items (rows) appear on each page.
| Option chosen | What you see on one screen | How many pages you’ll have to click |
|---|---|---|
| 10 rows | 10 entries | More pages (slower browsing) |
| 25 rows | 25 entries | Fewer pages |
| 50 rows | 50 entries | Even fewer pages |
| 100 rows | 100 entries | Very few pages |
Why Do Indian Websites Still Default to 10 Rows?
This is not an accident. It is a deliberate design choice for four solid reasons that matter a lot in India:
- Slow and Expensive Mobile Internet
Even in 2025, 68 % of internet users in India are on 2G/3G or low-speed 4G plans. Loading 100 rows at once can consume 300–800 KB extra data per page refresh. Keeping the default at 10 rows saves precious data and money. - Older Phones and Low RAM
More than 250 million Indians still use phones with 2–4 GB RAM. Displaying 100 rows with images, icons, and formatting can make the page freeze or crash. 10 rows is safe for almost every device. - Server Cost for Government Portals
Sites like Income Tax, GSTN, PF withdrawal, and DigiLocker handle 5–50 million visits per day. Serving 10 rows instead of 100 reduces server load by up to 70 %, saving crores in cloud bills. - Accessibility and Readability
Senior citizens and first-time internet users find a short list less overwhelming. A clean page with 10 entries is easier to read on small screens.
Real-Life Examples Every Indian Recognises
| Website / Portal | Default Rows | Can You Change It? | Highest Option |
|---|---|---|---|
| SBI, HDFC, Axis Net Banking | 10 | Yes | 100 |
| IRCTC Ticket Booking History | 10 | Yes | 50 |
| Income Tax e-Filing (Form 26AS, ITR-V) | 10 | Yes | 100 |
| GST Portal | 10 | Yes | 100 |
| DigiLocker | 12 | Yes | 100 |
| EPFO Passbook | 10 | Yes | 50 |
| SSC / UPSC Result Pages | 50 | Sometimes | 100 |
Quick Tips to Make Your Life Easier
- Always change to 50 or 100 if you are on Wi-Fi or unlimited data — you’ll save dozens of clicks.
- On mobile data, stick to 10 or 25 to save money and battery.
- After changing the setting, it usually stays for that session or until you clear browser data.
- Use the search/filter box first — it reduces total rows and makes even 10-per-page fast.
The Future: Will 10 Rows Finally Disappear?
With Jio and Airtel’s 5G reaching 90 % of districts and average phone RAM crossing 6 GB in 2025, many private banks (ICICI, Kotak) have already moved the default to 25 or 50. Government portals, however, continue to prioritise the bottom 50 % of users who are still on slow connections and old phones.
So the humble “Rows per page – 10” dropdown will stay with us for a few more years — a tiny reminder that good design in India must always keep the slowest connection and the oldest phone in mind.
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