The BharatNet project is being implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) and villages beyond GPs on demand basis across the country.

For providing a reliable network to ensure quality internet for the users, amended BharatNet program approved by the Union Cabinet on 04.08.2023 has inter-alia provisions to upgrade existing BharatNet network in ring architecture, focus on utilization of the network through BharatNet Udyamis, BSNL is appointed as the single Project Management Agency (PMA) under Amended BharatNet program for Operation & Maintenance of the entire network based on Service Level Agreement (SLA), Dedicated Network Operation Centre, etc.

State-UT/wise details of FTTH connections provided under BharatNet is attached as Annexure-I.

Government of India launched National Broadband Mission 2.0 on January 17, 2025, with the vision of fast-tracking the rapid expansion of digital communications infrastructure, bridging the digital divide and fostering digital empowerment and inclusion, ensuring High-Speed Broadband and Meaningful Connectivity for all.

MeitY initiated Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) to ensure/provide digital literacy in 6 crore rural households (one person per household) nationwide. The Scheme was implemented by CSC e-Governance Services India Limited through Common Service Centres (CSCs) present at Gram Panchayats level across the country. As against 6 crore, 6.39 crore individuals were trained. The training & certification under the scheme was officially concluded on March 31 , 2024. The States/UTs wise achievement is given as Annexure-II.

The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) conducted the ‘Comprehensive Annual Modular Survey’ (CAMS) in its 79th round (July, 2022 to June, 2023). As per the survey, among the persons aged 15-24 years, around 78.4 percent reported execution of skill of ‘sending messages (e.g., e-mail, messaging service, SMS) with attached files (e.g., documents, pictures, video)’. Further, about 94.2 percent of rural households and about 97.1 percent of urban households possess telephone and/or mobile phone. From the said report, given the significant rise in smart-phone usage, internet penetration, and digital engagement in rural areas, the objectives of the scheme were successfully achieved.

Impact analysis of the PMGDISHA scheme was carried out by three agencies namely IIT Delhi, Council for Social Development (CSD) and Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA). The gist of the evaluation report is that the PMGDISHA is a unique scheme due to its large scale and the use of remotely proctored examinations. The training provided under PMGDISHA has had a significant impact on the adoption of Information & Communication Technology (ICT) and other forms of digital media. It has benefited its participants by enabling their access to a wide range of information and services for various purposes, helping to reduce the overall digital divide in the country.

The National Broadband Mission (NBM) was launched by the government on 17^th December 2019 with a vision to enable fast-track growth of digital communications infrastructure, bridge the digital divide for digital empowerment and inclusion; and provide affordable and universal access to broadband for all. The NBM addresses the major bottleneck of Right of Way (RoW) issues, enabling faster telecom infrastructure deployment across the country. Key initiative under NBM are:

(i) Centralized Right of Way (RoW) Portal GatiShakti Sanchar.

(ii) Telecommunication Right of Way Rules, 2024

(iii) 'Call Before u Dig' (CBuD) mobile app

(iv) The PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (NMP) Platform

 

Progress under the National Broadband Mission (NBM) 1.0 since the launch

• No. of broadband subscribers increased from 66 crores to 94.49 crores.
• Per capita average monthly wireless data consumption increased from 10 GB to 21.10 GB.
• The median mobile broadband download speed witnessed a substantial increase, rising from 10.71 Mbps in 2019 to an impressive 144.33 Mbps in February 2025. Similarly, the median fixed broadband download speed increased from 29.25 Mbps in 2019 to 61.66 Mbps in February 2025, according to Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index.
• Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) length increased from 19.35 lakh route km to 42.13 lakh route km.
• Mobile towers increased from 5.37 lakh to 8.23 lakh.
• Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) increased from 21.80 lakh to 29.97 lakhs including 4.69 lakh 5G BTSs.
• As of March 25, 2025, 206 State Broadband Committee (SBC) meetings were held for the effective implementation of the mission and proliferation of broadband across the country.
• Capacity-building conferences for 5G use cases were held in the majority of States/UTs focussing on various sectors viz. health, education, Industry 4.0 and public safety domains.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology Shri Jitin Prasada in Lok Sabha today.

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Annexure-I

State-UT/wise details of FTTH connections provided under BharatNet

S.No.	State	Total FTTH connection
1	A & N	7741
2	Andhra Pradesh	50142
3	Arunachal Pradesh	16
4	Assam	5877
5	Bihar	42121
6	Chandigarh	300
7	Chhattisgarh	12202
8	Dadra Nagar Haveli	173
9	Daman & Diu	0
10	Gujarat	125864
11	Haryana	150256
12	Himachal Pradesh	3650
13	Jammu & Kashmir	9789
14	Jharkhand	25899
15	Karnataka	53530
16	Kerala	199753
17	Lakshadweep	0
18	Leh (UT)	0
19	Madhya Pradesh	57914
20	Maharashtra	27328
21	Manipur	3957
22	Meghalaya	102
23	Mizoram	48
24	Nagaland	136
25	Odisha	11832
26	Puducherry	4105
27	Punjab	230243
28	Rajasthan	52041
29	Sikkim	46
30	Telangana	22409
31	Tamilnadu	102
32	Tripura	1408
33	Uttar Pradesh-E	77698
34	Uttar Pradesh-W
35	Uttarakhand	21481
36	West Bengal	55834
	Total	12,53,997

Source: Department of Telecommunications

Annexure- II

State/UT-wise achievement made under PMGDISHA Scheme

Sl. No.	State Name	Registered Candidates	Trained Candidates
1	Andaman and Nicobar Islands	5,564	2,931
2	Andhra Pradesh	23,01,731	19,17,452
3	Arunachal Pradesh	14,949	11,615
4	Assam	27,21,585	23,60,195
5	Bihar	82,40,606	74,12,740
6	Chhattisgarh	24,86,455	21,37,064
7	Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman  & Diu	20,522	18,029
8	Goa	58,569	53,784
9	Gujarat	30,31,310	26,83,286
10	Haryana	18,57,815	15,77,109
11	Himachal Pradesh	6,61,922	5,32,976
12	Jammu and Kashmir	8,70,451	7,06,991
13	Jharkhand	27,52,731	22,86,356
14	Karnataka	29,64,726	24,40,957
15	Kerala	1,77,165	1,18,132
16	Ladakh	24,785	22,122
17	Lakshadweep	142	35
18	Madhya Pradesh	56,92,467	50,69,449
19	Maharashtra	61,23,970	53,23,817
20	Manipur	28,397	18,286
21	Meghalaya	1,52,783	1,06,063
22	Mizoram	30,317	23,125
23	Nagaland	11,990	8,968
24	Odisha	36,16,441	30,86,143
25	Puducherry	22,079	15,801
26	Punjab	17,46,448	15,14,820
27	Rajasthan	45,06,184	39,70,690
28	Sikkim	27,035	23,122
29	Tamil Nadu	17,04,537	14,07,880
30	Telangana	14,56,226	12,10,448
31	Tripura	3,25,000	2,64,186
32	Uttar Pradesh	1,63,14,369	1,45,48,273
33	Uttarakhand	7,85,978	6,73,306
34	West Bengal	28,36,714	23,95,565
Total		7,35,71,963	6,39,41,716

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Dharmendra Tewari\Navin Sreejith

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