23 April 2026·PIB

BSNL Annual Results FY 2025-26 Reviewed

In this note

1. At a Glance

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is a Public Sector Undertaking under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, incorporated in 2000. [1][2]
FY 2025-26 annual results were reviewed at the Strategic Review and Planning Meet (SRPM) at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on 23 April 2026, chaired by Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia. [1]
India became one of only five countries with a fully indigenous telecom stack — relevant for Atmanirbhar Bharat, PSU revival, and Digital India themes. [1][2]

SRPM (23 Apr 2026) lauded BSNL's "transformative performance" — first sustained profitability trajectory in over a decade. [1]
Completion of ~98,000 indigenous 4G sites rollout (target 1 lakh); 95,511 sites on air as of 15 Jan 2026. [2]

2000 — BSNL incorporated by carving out telecom operations from DoT. [1]
2007 — last profitable year prior to the recent turnaround. [3]
2019 & 2022 — Cabinet-approved revival packages (₹69,000 cr and ₹1.64 lakh cr) including 4G/5G spectrum allotment. [5]
Q3 FY 2024-25 — BSNL posted ₹262 crore profit, first quarterly profit since 2007. [3]
Q4 FY 2024-25 — profit of ₹280 crore vs loss of ₹849 cr YoY; annual loss reduced ~58% to ₹2,247 crore. [4]
2025-26 — Nationwide rollout of Swadeshi 4G (5G-ready) stack launched by PM Modi. [2]

Parent Ministry: Ministry of Communications → DoT. [1]
CMD BSNL: Shri A. Robert J. Ravi. [1]
Union Minister (Communications): Jyotiraditya M. Scindia; MoS: Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani. [1]
Secretary (Telecommunications): Shri Amit Agarwal. [1]
H1 FY 2025-26 revenue: ₹11,134 crore (Q1 ₹6,000 cr + Q2 ₹5,347 cr). [3]
Indigenous 4G stack architecture: RAN by Tejas Networks, Core by C-DOT, system integration by TCS, deployed by BSNL. [2]
Five-nation club: India joined elite group with own 4G stack (others typically US, China, South Korea, Sweden/Finland — Ericsson/Nokia). [1][2]
Deployment: 97,672 of 1,00,000 sites installed; 95,511 on air (15.01.2026). [2]

Economic: PSU turnaround — first annual profit trajectory since 2007; H1 FY26 revenue ₹11,134 cr; reduces fiscal drag from chronic losses. [3][4]
Scientific / Technological: Fully indigenous 4G/5G-ready stack; C-DOT core + Tejas RAN demonstrates sovereign telecom capability. [2]
Geopolitical / Strategic: Reduces dependence on Chinese (Huawei, ZTE) and Western (Ericsson, Nokia) vendors; aligns with "trusted source" telecom policy. [2]
Administrative: Revival via Cabinet packages — capex-led 4G rollout + VRS-led cost rationalization. [5]
Social: Rural and Northeast connectivity — BSNL primary carrier in remote, commercially unviable areas. [2]

Q3 FY 2024-25: ₹262 cr profit announced — first since 2007. [3]
Q4 FY 2024-25: ₹280 cr profit; annual loss cut by 58% to ₹2,247 cr. [4]
2025: PM Modi inaugurated indigenous 4G stack + 1 lakh towers initiative. [2]
15 Jan 2026: 97,672 indigenous 4G sites installed; 95,511 on air. [2]
23 Apr 2026: SRPM at Vigyan Bhawan; FY 2025-26 results reviewed. [1]

BSNL is under the Ministry of Communications, NOT MeitY. [1]
BSNL incorporated in 2000. [1]
First quarterly profit since 2007 posted in Q3 FY 2024-25 (₹262 cr). [3]
Indigenous 4G RAN developed by Tejas Networks. [2]
Core network of indigenous stack built by C-DOT (Centre for Development of Telematics). [2]
System integrator for swadeshi 4G stack: TCS. [2]
India is the 5th country to deploy a fully indigenous 4G telecom stack. [2]
CMD BSNL (2026): A. Robert J. Ravi. [1]
SRPM 2026 held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on 23 April 2026. [1]
BSNL revival packages totalled approx ₹3.22 lakh crore across 2019, 2022, 2023 tranches. [5]
H1 FY 2025-26 revenue: ₹11,134 crore. [3]
The swadeshi 4G stack is 5G-ready (upgradeable). [2]

GS-III — Indian Economy (PSU performance, disinvestment debate); Science & Tech (indigenous telecom); Infrastructure.
GS-II — Government policies and interventions (PSU revival package).
Syllabus headings: "Effects of liberalization on the economy"; "Indigenization of technology"; "Government Budgeting".
Possible stems:
"The revival of BSNL illustrates that state capacity in strategic sectors complements, rather than contradicts, market efficiency. Discuss."
"Examine the strategic significance of India developing an indigenous 4G/5G telecom stack."
"Critically evaluate the role of public sector telecom in bridging India's digital divide."

C-DOT — central R&D arm of DoT; built the 4G core.
Tejas Networks — listed telecom equipment maker (Tata group).
PLI Scheme for Telecom & Networking Products — fiscal complement to indigenization.
National Broadband Mission 2.0 — 4G saturation target.
Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) / Digital Bharat Nidhi — rural telecom funding.
TRAI — sectoral regulator; subscriber/tariff data.
5G Rollout & Bharat 6G Vision (2023) — successor agenda.
MTNL merger discussion — BSNL-MTNL consolidation.

BSNL is under Min. of Communications, not MeitY (which handles IT/electronics). [1]
Indigenous 4G core is by C-DOT, not by TCS (TCS is integrator); RAN is by Tejas. [2]
First profit since 2007, not since incorporation in 2000. [3]
BSNL was incorporated in 2000, but telecom services were carved from DoT — not from VSNL (which became Tata Communications).
The "five countries" club refers to indigenous 4G stack capability, not 5G or satellite — easy to confuse.