Union Minister Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia presents achievements of the Department of Telecommunications in providing connectivity to Gram Panchayats and vision for the coming years in Parliament

1. At a Glance

• Statement made in Parliament (29 Jan 2026) by Union Minister of Communications Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia on DoT's progress in connecting Gram Panchayats (GPs) via the Amended BharatNet Programme, branded the "world's largest CAPEX broadband programme" [S1][S3].
• Relevant for UPSC across GS-II (Governance, Welfare Schemes) and GS-III (Infrastructure, Digital India, Rural Development); pairs with Digital India, PM-WANI, and Bharat 6G Vision.
• Core theme: Digital Highways across rural India via BharatNet → FTTH (Fibre-to-the-Home) using a BharatNet Udyami (BNU) last-mile model under Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) funding [S2][S3].

2. Why in the News

• 29 January 2026: Scindia presented DoT's achievements & vision in Parliament; highlighted progress under the ₹1,39,579 crore (~₹1.40 lakh crore) Amended BharatNet scheme [S1][S3].
• Gujarat became the first State to achieve 100% targets under the State-Led Model, formalised via a quadripartite agreement between GoI (Digital Bharat Nidhi), Government of Gujarat, BSNL, and GFGNL (Gujarat Fibre Grid Network Ltd.) [S2][S3].

3. Background & Evolution

• 2011: Approved as National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN); rebranded BharatNet in 2015 — flagship rural broadband project.
• Phases I & II: ~2,14,000 of 2,56,000 GPs connected at an approximate cost of ₹42,000 crore [S1].
• 4 Aug 2023: Cabinet approved the Amended BharatNet Programme with outlay ₹1,39,579 crore for OFC connectivity to 2.64 lakh GPs in ring topology + ~3.8 lakh non-GP villages on demand [S1].
• Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) renamed Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) under the Telecommunications Act, 2023 — funds the programme.

4. Core Static Facts

• Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Communications → Department of Telecommunications (DoT) [S1].
• Executing PSU: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) as Project Management Agency (PMA) for the Amended BharatNet [S2].
• Funding vehicle: Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) under Telecommunications Act, 2023 (replaces USOF).
• Outlay: ₹1,39,579 crore (~₹1.40 lakh crore) [S1][S3].
• OFC laid: nearly 7 lakh km under BharatNet (Scindia's parliamentary statement) [S3]; aggregate national OFC rose from 19.35 → 42.13 lakh route km [S2].
• Targets: connect 2.64 lakh GPs in ring topology; 1.5 crore FTTH (rural home fibre) connections over 5 years [S1][S2].
• GPs service-ready: 2,18,347 (as of 19 March 2025) [S1].
• Last-mile model: BharatNet Udyamis (BNUs) — village-level entrepreneurs given capital + operational subsidies + one-time incentive per activated home fibre connection [S2][S3].
• State-Led Model pioneer: Gujarat (GFGNL) via quadripartite agreement (GoI-DBN, GoG, BSNL, GFGNL) [S2][S3].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

• Economic: World's largest CAPEX broadband programme; BNUs link connectivity → rural entrepreneurship & employment; enables digital commerce, e-KYC, UPI penetration in villages [S3].
• Administrative / Federalism: State-Led Model (Gujarat template) decentralises execution to State SPVs while DBN funds — addresses earlier delays under purely central rollout (Phase I/II) [S2].
• Technological: Shift from GP-only backbone to FTTH last-mile; ring topology ensures redundancy; aligns with 5G/6G backhaul and Bharat 6G Vision (2023).
• Social Equity: Targets schools, PHCs, Anganwadis, Panchayat offices — bridges digital divide for vulnerable rural populations [S2].
• Legal: Statutory underpinning via Telecommunications Act, 2023 (Digital Bharat Nidhi, Sections 24–26); replaces Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 era USOF.

6. Recent Developments (last 12–18 months)

• 29 Jan 2026: Scindia's Parliament statement on DoT achievements & vision [S3].
• 2025: Gujarat operationalises Amended BharatNet under State-Led Model via quadripartite pact [S2].
• 19 Mar 2025: 2,18,347 GPs declared service-ready [S1].
• 2024–25: BNU framework rolled out with capex + opex subsidies [S2][S3].

7. Prelims Hooks

• Amended BharatNet outlay: ₹1,39,579 crore [S1].
• Target FTTH connections: 1.5 crore rural homes [S2][S3].
• OFC laid under BharatNet: ~7 lakh km [S3].
• Total national OFC: 42.13 lakh route km (up from 19.35 lakh) [S2].
• GPs targeted: 2.64 lakh in ring topology + 3.8 lakh non-GP villages on demand [S1].
• GPs service-ready (Mar 2025): 2,18,347 [S1].
• Cabinet approval of Amended BharatNet: 4 August 2023.
• Funding fund: Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) — successor to USOF under Telecommunications Act, 2023 [S2].
• PMA: BSNL [S2].
• State-Led Model first signatory: Gujarat via GFGNL quadripartite agreement [S2][S3].
• Last-mile actor: BharatNet Udyami (BNU) — village-level entrepreneur [S3].
• Topology: Ring (for redundancy), not star/bus.
• Predecessor name: National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN), 2011; rebranded BharatNet 2015.
• Minister: Jyotiraditya M. Scindia — Communications & DoNER.

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-II: Government policies for vulnerable sections; e-Governance.
• GS-III: Infrastructure (digital); Inclusive growth; Science & Technology.
• Syllabus: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections… performance; Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.; Awareness in IT, Computers.
• Plausible questions: 1. "Bridging the rural digital divide requires not just backbone fibre but viable last-mile entrepreneurship." Examine in light of the Amended BharatNet & BNU model. (15 marks) 2. Discuss how the State-Led Model under BharatNet (e.g., Gujarat) reshapes Centre-State coordination in digital infrastructure delivery. (10 marks) 3. Evaluate the role of Digital Bharat Nidhi under the Telecommunications Act, 2023 in achieving universal broadband. (15 marks)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• Telecommunications Act, 2023 — statutory base; replaced 1885 Telegraph Act.
• Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) — successor to USOF; funds BharatNet.
• PM-WANI (Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) — public Wi-Fi hotspots; complements BharatNet.
• Bharat 6G Vision (Mar 2023) — next-gen telecom roadmap.
• PLI Scheme for Telecom & Networking Products — domestic equipment manufacture.
• Digital India Programme (2015) — umbrella mission.
• Common Service Centres (CSCs) — service delivery node on BharatNet.
• National Broadband Mission (2019/refresh 2024) — connectivity targets.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Outlay confusion: Amended BharatNet = ₹1,39,579 crore; do NOT conflate with original BharatNet (~₹42,000 cr Phases I–II).
• USOF vs DBN: Post-Telecom Act 2023, USOF was renamed Digital Bharat Nidhi — examiners may swap names.
• Ministry trap: BharatNet sits under DoT (Ministry of Communications), not MeitY (which runs Digital India services layer).
• Executing agency: BSNL is PMA, not the State Govt; in Gujarat, GFGNL is the State SPV — quadripartite, not bipartite.
• GP figures: 2.64 lakh GPs is the target under ring topology; do not confuse with ~2.56 lakh total GPs or the 2.14 lakh already connected.
• Topology: BharatNet uses ring (not mesh/star) for fault tolerance.

11. Sources

• [S1] Over 2.14 lakh gram panchayats connected under BharatNet — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2227152 — (tier 1)
• [S2] Amended BharatNet Program Operationalises in Gujarat under State-Led Model — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2139308 — (tier 1)
• [S3] Union Minister Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia presents achievements of DoT in providing connectivity to Gram Panchayats… in Parliament (PRID 2220329, 29 Jan 2026; user-supplied excerpt) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2220329 — (tier 1)