**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Minister's response to unstarred question number 2922 regarding the status of the BharatNet Project, answered on December 17, 2025. It provides updates on the project's implementation in Jharkhand, progress under BharatNet Phase-II, and the State-led model. It also covers the status of the BharatNet Udyami initiative and assessment of impact of BharatNet on governance, education, telemedicine, agriculture and digital payment etc. in rural areas. The target under the pilot project for rolling out of 5 Lakh FTTH connections by BSNL was achieved on 01.05.2024.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **BharatNet Project Status in Jharkhand:**
* 4,390 Gram Panchayats (GPs) are service-ready as of November 30, 2025.
* 1,686 GPs are service-ready in Phase-II, including 1,672 GPs under the State-led model and 14 GPs covered by satellite.
* **Nationwide BharatNet Status:**
* Total number of service-ready GPs in the country is 2,14,904 as of November 2025.
* Wi-Fi service is supported by equipment installed at many GPs.
* **FTTH Connections:**
* State/UT-wise status of FTTH connections is attached at Annexure-I.
* A total of 1,392,767 FTTH connections have been provided as of November 2025.
* **Impact Assessment:**
* A third-party audit conducted during March-April 2024 assessed the implementation of a pilot project for 5 lakh FTTH connections.
* Audit findings indicated satisfactory coverage of FTTH services across various States/UTs.
* **BharatNet Udyami (BNU) Initiative:**
* BNUs (village-level entrepreneurs, ISPs, Self Help Groups) provide and maintain last-mile connectivity.
* BNUs receive a one-time financial incentive for new home fibre connections and a share of monthly revenue.
* As of December 8, 2025, 7,52,161 connections have been provided by BNUs.
* **Pilot Project for FTTH Connections:**
* A pilot project for rolling out of 5 Lakh FTTH connections by BSNL using BharatNet Udyamies (BNUs) was approved.
* Financial subsidy from DBN was provided. The target under the pilot is achieved on 01.05.2024.
**Impact Analysis**
**BSNL:**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing the pilot project for 5 lakh FTTH connections via BNUs.
* **Action Required:** Continue to work with BNUs to maintain and expand FTTH connections.
**BharatNet Udyamis (BNUs):**
* **Impact:** Provide last-mile connectivity to households.
* **Action Required:** Activate new home fiber connections and maintain existing connections to receive financial incentives.
**Rural Households and Institutions:**
* **Impact:** Access to broadband via BharatNet, impacting governance, education, telemedicine, agriculture, and digital payments.
* **Action Required:** Utilize available broadband services.
**State/UT Governments:**
* **Impact:** Responsible for the State-led model implementation, including the rollout of FTTH connections
* **Action Required:** Promote the utilization of the broadband infrastructure.
**Department of Telecommunications**
* **Impact:** Responsible for answering questions regarding BharatNet Project.
* **Action Required:** Continue assessing and overseeing the implementation of BharatNet in states and UTs.
Key Entities Referenced
BharatNet Project: A project to provide broadband connectivity to Gram Panchayats (GPs) across India.
Gram Panchayats (GP): Village level local self-government institutions targeted by the BharatNet project.
BharatNet Udyami initiative: An initiative under BharatNet to enable home fiber connections in rural areas through village level entrepreneurs.
Jharkhand: A state where the implementation status of BharatNet Project is specifically addressed in the question.
BSNL: A telecommunications company that conducted a third-party audit to assess the implementation of a pilot project for the BharatNet network.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2922
ANSWERED ON 17TH DECEMBER, 2025
BHARATNET PROJECT
†2922. SHRI NALIN SOREN:
SHRI VIJAY BAGHEL:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:
(a) the present status of implementation of BharatNet Project in Jharkhand along with the number
of Gram Panchayats (GP) and villages connected so far thereunder;
(b) the details of the progress made under the BharatNet Phase-II and State-led model under
BharatNet project;
(c) the details of fiber rollout plan, Wi-Fi hotspots operation and service promptness in
connected gram panchayats along with the active broadband use by households and institutions,
State-wise;
(d) whether the Government has assessed the impact of BharatNet on governance, education,
telemedicine, agriculture and digital payment etc. sectors in rural areas;
(e) if so, the outcome thereof;
(f) the eligibility criteria, incentives and implementation status of BharatNet Udyami initiative
to enable home fiber connection in rural areas;
(g) the details of pilot scheme introduced under BharatNet Udyami initiative; and
(h) the details of target achieved/achievement made so far thereunder?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) & (b) In Jharkhand, 4,390 GPs have been made service-ready under BharatNet as of
30.11.2025, out of which 1,686 GPs have been made service-ready in Phase-II, which includes 1,672
GPs covered under the State-led model and 14 GPs covered by satellite.
(c) Total number of service ready Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country is 2,14,904 as on Nov-
2025 Wi-Fi service is supported by equipment installed at many GPs. The State/UT-wise status of
FTTH connections provided under BharatNet is attached at Annexure-I.
(d) & (e) Yes, BSNL conducted a third-party audit during March–April 2024 to assess the
implementation of a pilot project for implementation of 5 lakh FTTH connections in rural areas
through the BharatNet network. The audit findings indicated satisfactory coverage of FTTH services
across various States/UTs through OLT installed by BNU partners.
1(f) BNU could be a village level entrepreneur, Internet Service Provider, Self Help Group
(SHG), etc. BharatNet Udyamis (BNUs) will be used for providing and maintaining last-mile
connectivity from village to household. BNUs will be given a one-time financial incentive for
activating new home fibre connections. To incentivize continuity of services, BNUs will also receive
a share of the monthly revenue. As on 08.12.2025, total 7,52,161 connections provided by BNUs
have been working.
(g) & (h) A pilot project for rolling out of 5 Lakh FTTH connections by BSNL using BharatNet
through BharatNet Udyamies (BNUs) was approved with financial subsidy from DBN. The target
under the pilot is achieved on 01.05.2024.
2Annexure-I
Utilization of BharatNet project (as of Nov,2025)
S. No. State Total FTTH connection
1 Andaman & Nicobar 9122
2 Andhra Pradesh 51734
3 Arunachal Pradesh 22
4 Assam 6317
5 Bihar 46764
6 Chandigarh 1
7 Chhattisgarh 14498
8 Dadra & Nagar Haveli 222
9 Gujarat 110665
10 Haryana 169931
11 Himachal Pradesh 4248
12 Jammu & Kashmir 10460
13 Jharkhand 28089
14 Karnataka 59813
15 Kerala 237913
16 Madhya Pradesh 64893
17 Maharashtra 31098
18 Manipur 4911
19 Meghalaya 167
20 Mizoram 65
21 Nagaland 152
22 Odisha 11748
23 Puducherry 4476
24 Punjab 260125
25 Rajasthan 56462
26 Sikkim 46
27 Tamil Nadu 805
28 Telangana 26203
29 Tripura 1543
30 Uttar Pradesh 94144
31 Uttarakhand 23750
32 West Bengal 62380
Total 1392767
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