Parliament Question: BharatNet Programme and National Broadband Mission 2.0

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 154 ANSWERED ON 29TH JULY, 2026 BHARATNET PROGRAMME AND NATIONAL BROADBAND MISSION 2.0 †*154. SHRI BHOJRAJ NAG: SHRI MANOJ TIWARI: Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state: (a) the details of the progress made across the country under the revised BharatNet programme and National Broadband Mission 2.0 during the last one year; (b) the details of number of gram panchayats and villages connected with broadband connectivity so far, State and district-wise particularly in Kanker, Balod, Kondagon and Dhamtari districts of Chhattisgarh; (c) the details of the specific measures taken/special schemes formulated by the Government to strengthen/enhance high-speed broadband infrastructure and improve digital connectivity in the rural, remote, forest and deprived areas of the country particularly in the said four districts and Odisha including Keonjhar Lok Sabha Constituency and Maharashtra including Jalgaon; (d) the initiatives undertaken to provide broadband connectivity to schools, health institutions, panchayat offices and other public institutions; and (e) the framework of the Government to ensure universal and meaningful broadband connectivity while promoting the vision of Digital India and Developed India 2047 and expected benefits for Odisha particularly Keonjhar Lok Sabha Constituency? ANSWER MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION (SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA) (a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House. 1STATEMENT TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF LOK SABHA IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 154 FOR 29TH JULY, 2026 REGARDING “BHARATNET PROGRAMME AND NATIONAL BROADBAND MISSION 2.0” ASKED BY SHRI BHOJRAJ NAG & SHRI MANOJ TIWARI. (a), (d) & (e) Mobile tower installation schemes, submarine optical fibre cable projects and the Amended BharatNet Programme have been funded from Digital Bharat Nidhi for universal and meaningful broadband connectivity with a view to realise the vision of Viksit Bharat and ensure that the benefits of Digital India reach the rural and remote areas across the country, including in the State of Odisha and the Keonjhar Lok Sabha constituency. Under the Amended BharatNet Programme, provision has been made for optical fibre connectivity to approximately 2.65 lakh Gram Panchayats (GPs) and approximately 3.8 lakh non- GP villages on demand basis, across the country. The programme also has provision for incentive for 1.50 crore rural fibre connections distributed across the country. The programme is implemented in two models across the country: (i) BSNL-led model, which covers 1,67,727 GPs in 21 States and 5 Union territories (UTs); and (ii) State-led model, which covers 97,336 GPs in 7 States. BSNL, as the Project Management Agency, has signed agreements with Project Implementing Agencies for implementation of the programme for 18 packages covering 21 States and 5 UTs. As of June 2026, a total 43,908 kilometre of optical fibre cable has been laid and 13,494 GPs have been upgraded under the programme. Details are at Annexure I. The National Broadband Mission 2.0 was launched by the Government on 17.1.2025 and has been effective since 1.4.2025. The Mission aims to fast-track rapid expansion of digital communications infrastructure, bridge the digital and socio-economic divide and ensure high-speed broadband and meaningful connectivity for all, across the country. During the last one year, the progress under the main components of the Mission is as follows: (i) The national average fixed broadband download speed has reached 60.85 Mbps as on 31.3.2026. (ii) The number of rural internet subscribers per 100 population has increased from 45.03 to 48.31 during 2025-26. (iii) Broadband connectivity to anchor institutions (schools, Primary Health Centres, Anganwadis and Panchayat offices) has reached 21,82,312 connections as on 31.3.2026. (iv) The national average for the time taken to dispose right of way applications has reduced from 80.63 days in the financial year (FY) 2024-25 to 35.62 days in FY2025-26. (v) The use of sustainable energy in mobile towers has increased from 8% to 11.44% during FY2025-26. (vi) At present, all 36 States and UTs are live on the centralised portal for right of way applications, marking nationwide adoption of a uniform digital platform for the processing of and grant of permissions in response to such applications. (b) & (c) The Government has approved the BharatNet Project including the Amended BharatNet Programme and 12 mobile tower installation schemes, including the 4G Saturation Project and schemes for border areas, Aspirational Districts, Left Wing Extremism areas and island territories, with a view to strengthen high-speed broadband infrastructure and improve digital connectivity for delivery of telecom services in rural, remote, forested and uncovered areas across the country. 2Details of GPs connected under the BharatNet Project in the States of Chhattisgarh (including in Kanker, Balod, Kondagaon and Dhamtari districts), Odisha (including in the Keonjhar Lok Sabha Constituency, which falls in Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts) and Maharashtra (including Jalgaon district) are at Annexure II. Details of 4G mobile towers funded from Digital Bharat Nidhi in these areas are at Annexure III. 3Annexure I Annex referred to in the reply to parts (a), (d) and (e) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. *154, to be answered on 29th July, 2026 Details of Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) laid and Gram Panchayats upgraded under the Amended BharatNet Programme (ABP) OFC laid GPs upgraded under S. No. State / Union territory GPs (scope) under ABP ABP (km) Andaman and Nicobar 1 72 42 62 Islands 2 Bihar 8,405 1,788 1,200 3 Himachal Pradesh 3,615 4,119 739 4 Jammu and Kashmir 4,299 930 295 5 Karnataka 6,090 784 344 6 Madhya Pradesh 22,858 10,917 1,728 7 Puducherry 109 382 109 8 Punjab 13,337 3,949 3,069 9 Uttar Pradesh 59,290 13,292 4,010 10 Uttarakhand 7,937 7,222 1,507 11 Other States/UTs 1,39,051 483 431 Total 2,65,063 43,908 13,494 4Annexure II Annex referred to in the reply to parts (b) and (c) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. *154, to be answered on 29th July, 2026 Details of GPs connected under the BharatNet Project in the States of Chhattisgarh (including in Kanker, Balod, Kondagaon and Dhamtari districts), Odisha (including in the Keonjhar Lok Sabha Constituency, which falls in Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts) and Maharashtra (including Jalgaon district), as on 30.6.2026 State GPs connected under S/N District BharatNet 1 Chhattisgarh All districts 9,695 1 a Kanker 392 1b Balod 405 1c Kondagaon 251 1d Dhamtari 317 2 Odisha All districts 6,785 2a Keonjhar 297 2b Mayurbhanj 401 3 Maharashtra All districts 24,575 3a Jalgaon 1,110 5Annexure-III Annex referred to in the reply to parts (b) and (c) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. *154, to be answered on 29th July, 2026 Details of 4G mobile towers funded from Digital Bharat Nidhi in the States of Chhattisgarh (including in Kanker, Balod, Kondagaon and Dhamtari districts), Odisha (including in the Keonjhar Lok Sabha Constituency, which falls in Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts) and Maharashtra (including Jalgaon district), as on 30.6.2026 Villages/ Villages/ S. Towers Towers State District locations locations no. planned on air planned covered 1 Chhattisgarh All districts 3,168 1,967 2,854 1,757 1a Balod 20 19 19 18 1b Dhamtari 68 64 59 55 1c Kanker 349 244 337 232 1d Kondagaon 161 144 152 137 2 Odisha All districts 7,275 5,483 5,238 3,726 2a Keonjhar 152 66 132 53 2b Mayurbhanj 212 156 131 84 3 Maharashtra All districts 4,545 3,405 3,841 2,821 3a Jalgaon 95 87 88 81 *** 6