Out of 6,44,131 villages in the Country (as per Registrar General of India), around 6,22,840 villages are having mobile coverage and out of these, 6,14,564 villages are covered with 4G mobile connectivity as on 30.09.2024.

Under Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) Mission of Ministry of Tribal Affairs, 4,543 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) habitations were identified as mobile uncovered and out of these 1,136 PVTG habitations have been covered with mobile connectivity.

Government is implementing various schemes / projects under Digital Bharat Nidhi for expansion of telecom connectivity through installation of mobile towers in rural, remote and hilly areas of the country including PVTG habitations. As on 31.10.2024, 1,018 mobile towers under various Digital Bharat Nidhi funded mobile projects have been sanctioned to provide 4G coverage to PVTG habitations with estimated expenditure of Rs 1,014 Crore.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Dr.Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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SB/ARJ

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