**Executive Summary**
This report outlines the progress of the BharatNet Programme in providing high-speed broadband and internet connectivity to Gram Panchayats (GPs) across India. As of April 1, 2026, over 2.18 lakh out of 2.69 lakh GPs and Traditional Local Bodies (TLBs) have been made service-ready. A total of ₹22,001.30 crore was disbursed for this digital infrastructure project between the financial years 2020-21 and 2024-25.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Infrastructure Objectives and Implementation**
* The initiative aims to strengthen digital infrastructure at the GP level to facilitate effective digital governance.
* Connectivity is provided through multiple mediums, including Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) and private Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
* The BharatNet Programme, managed by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), is the primary vehicle for providing optical fibre connectivity to GPs and TLBs.
**Connectivity Status**
* According to the BharatNet UNMS dashboard, 218,347 GPs/TLBs are currently service-ready out of a total of 269,062.
* States such as Uttar Pradesh (47,451), Maharashtra (24,778), and Madhya Pradesh (18,106) lead in the number of service-ready points.
* Some regions, such as Goa, are recorded as having zero service-ready points despite having 191 GPs.
**Financial Disbursements**
* Total funds disbursed under the BharatNet Project over the last five financial years (2020-21 to 2024-25) amount to ₹22,001.30 crore.
* The highest annual disbursement occurred in FY 2021-22, totaling ₹7,510.96 crore.
* State-wise fund allocation shows significant disbursements to Maharashtra (₹3,400.60 crore), Uttar Pradesh (₹2,393.46 crore), and Gujarat (₹2,110.84 crore).
**Impact Analysis**
**Gram Panchayats (GPs) and Traditional Local Bodies (TLBs)**
**Impact**
GPs gain access to high-speed broadband and FTTH connections, enabling the transition to digital governance.
**Action Required**
Utilize the established digital infrastructure to implement digital governance tools and services for local residents.
**Department of Telecommunications (DoT)**
**Impact**
Responsible for the execution of the BharatNet Programme and the management of fund disbursements across states.
**Action Required**
Continue monitoring connectivity status via the UNMS dashboard and oversee the completion of remaining GPs to reach 100% service readiness.
**State and UT Governments**
**Impact**
States receive varying levels of financial support and infrastructure readiness based on local requirements and project packages.
**Action Required**
Coordinate with central agencies to ensure local infrastructure deployment is maintained and that disbursed funds are utilized effectively for regional connectivity.
Key Entities Referenced
BharatNet Programme: A major national initiative implemented to provide high-speed optical fiber connectivity and broadband services to all rural local bodies in India.
Department of Telecommunications (DoT): The implementing agency responsible for the technical execution of fiber connectivity and the disbursement of funds under the BharatNet Project.
Ministry of Panchayati Raj: The central ministry overseeing the digital transformation and strengthening of governance infrastructure at the Gram Panchayat level.
Gram Panchayats (GPs) / Traditional Local Bodies (TLBs): The primary local administrative units across Indian States and Union Territories that define the geographical and functional scope of the internet connectivity project.
Rajiv Ranjan Singh: The Union Minister who provided the official progress report and financial disbursement details for the BharatNet initiative to the Rajya Sabha.
Ministry of Panchayati Raj
INTERNET CONNECTIONS IN PANCHAYATS
Posted On: 01 APR 2026 3:24PM by PIB Delhi
The Government is committed to strengthening digital infrastructure at the Gram Panchayat (GP) level to
enable effective implementation of digital governance tools. All Gram Panchayats are connected to the
internet through multiple mediums, including Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) connections and through the
services provided by private Internet Service Providers.
Additionally, under the BharatNet Programme, being implemented by the Department of
Telecommunications, optical fibre connectivity is being provided to all the Gram Panchayats including the
Traditional local bodies (TLBs) in the country to enable high-speed broadband services, including Fiber-
To-The-Home (FTTH) connections.
As per the information available on the BharatNet UNMS dashboard, out of 2.69 lakh Gram Panchayats
(GPs)/Traditional Local Bodies (TLBs) over 2.18 lakh GPs/ TLBs have been made service-ready. The
State/UT-wise details of Service Ready Gram Panchayats are given at Annexure-I.
As per the information provided by DoT, funds amounting to ₹ 22,001.30 crore have been disbursed under
BharatNet Project during last five financial years (2020-21 to 2024-25). The year-wise and State-wise
details are given in Annexure-II and III, respectively.
Annexure-I
State/UT-wise details of Service Ready Gram Panchayats
S. No. States/UTs Total no. of GPs & No. of Service Ready
Equivalents Points*
1 Andaman & Nicobar Islands 70 81
2 Andhra Pradesh 13327 12972
3 Arunachal Pradesh 2108 1145
4 Assam 2657 1634
5 Bihar 8052 8860
6 Chhattisgarh 11693 97597 Goa 191 0
8 Gujarat 14621 14563
9 Haryana 6230 6204
10 Himachal Pradesh 3615 416
11 Jammu &Kashmir 4291 1115
12 Jharkhand 4345 4649
13 Karnataka 5949 6251
14 Kerala 941 1130
15 Ladakh 193 193
16 Lakshadweep 10 9
17 Madhya Pradesh 23011 18106
18 Maharashtra 28002 24778
19 Manipur 3811 1485
20 Meghalaya 7020 697
21 Mizoram 854 539
22 Nagaland 1328 236
23 Odisha 6794 7099
24 Puducherry 108 101
25 Punjab 13236 12807
26 Rajasthan 11071 8997
27 Sikkim 199 54
28 Tamil Nadu 12480 1029829 Telangana 12760 10926
30 The Dadra & Nagar Haveli and 50 41
Daman & Diu
31 Tripura 1194 772
32 Uttar Pradesh 57695 47451
33 Uttarakhand 7817 2021
34 West Bengal 3339 2958
Total 269062 218347
* The data is sourced from the BharatNet UNMS Dashboard, and some Gram Panchayats may have
more than one service-ready points.
Annexure-II
Year-wise details of fund disbursed under BharatNet Project during last five years (2020-21 to 2024-
25)
Financial Year Fund disbursed (Amount in ₹crore)
2020-21 5919.79
2021-22 7510.96
2022-23 1500.00
2023-24 3075.54
2024-25 3995.01
Total 22001.30
Annexure-IIIState-wise details of fund disbursed under BharatNet Project during last five years (2020-21 to
2024-25)
Sl. No. Name of States/ UT Fund disbursed
(Amount in ₹crore)
1 Andaman & Nicobar 17.13
2 Andhra Pradesh 1,319.30
3 Assam 114.48
4 Bihar 812.43
5 Chhattisgarh 1,648.85
6 Gujrat (including Dadar & Nagar Haveli and 2,110.84
Daman Diu)
7 Haryana 266.52
8 Himachal Pradesh 146.56
9 Jammu and Kashmir (including Ladakh) 123.89
10 Jharkhand 769.94
11 Karnataka 635.89
12 Kerala 213.35
13 Lakshadweep 0.11
14 Maharashtra (including Goa) 3,400.60
15 Madhya Pradesh 1,040.94
16 NE-I (Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura) 96.67
17 NE-II (Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland) 167.50
18 Odisha 765.61
19 Puducherry 7.0220 Punjab (including Chandigarh) 740.07
21 Rajasthan 991.72
22 Tamil Nadu 986.00
23 Telangana 1,832.22
24 Uttar Pradesh 2,393.46
25 Uttarakhand 107.73
26 West Bengal (including Sikkim) 391.97
27 Centrally disbursed 900.49
Grand Total 22,001.30
*Fund disbursed under Amended BharatNet Programme (ABP) for different packages are included in
respective States/UT like amount of Ladakh included in J&K, Amount for Goa and Puducherry included
in Karnataka, Amount for Dadar and Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu included in Madhya Pradesh and
Amount for A&N included in West Bengal
This information was given by Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh in a written
reply in Rajya Sabha on 01st April 2026.
***
AA
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