**Summary:**
This document summarizes the response provided by the Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2926, answered on August 6, 2025, regarding budget allocations to the State of Karnataka under Union Government schemes.
Specifically, the query addressed the budget sanctioned and allocated to Karnataka over the past two years (2023-24 and 2024-25), the submission of utilization certificates by the state, and the government's monitoring of budget accounting.
The response clarifies that under Central Sector Schemes of the Department of Telecommunications, funds are not directly allocated to states. Instead, funds are disbursed to project implementing agencies within Karnataka under the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), formerly the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).
The following table details the funds allocated/disbursed (in crores of Rupees) to project implementing agencies in Karnataka:
| Sl. No. | Name of Schemes | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | Total |
|---------|--------------------------------------|---------|---------|---------|
| 1 | BharatNet | 152.96 | 177.57 | 330.53 |
| 2 | 4G Saturation Mobile Project | 88.76 | 105.38 | 194.14 |
| 3 | Provision of Mobile Services in 354 Uncovered villages | 0.24 | 0.24 | 0.48 |
| | Grand Total | 241.96 | 283.19 | 525.15 |
The monitoring of funds disbursed from the Digital Bharat Nidhi is conducted based on the terms and conditions outlined in the agreement between the DBN and the project implementing agencies. This includes the submission and review of utilization certificates.
Key Entities Referenced
SHRI GOVIND MAKTHAPPA KARJOL: A member of parliament who asked the question.
Ministry of Communications: A ministry within the Government of India.
Department of Telecommunications: A department under the Ministry of Communications, Government of India.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
Karnataka: A state in India.
DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR: Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development.
Digital Bharat Nidhi: A fund (DBN) used to disburse funds to project implementing agencies.
Universal Service Obligation Fund: Erstwhile name for Digital Bharat Nidhi (USOF).
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2926
ANSWERED ON 6TH AUGUST, 2025
BUDGET SANCTIONED AND ALLOCATED TO KARNATAKA
2926. SHRI GOVIND MAKTHAPPA KARJOL:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the budget sanctioned and allocated to the State of Karnataka under various
schemes of the Union Government during the last two years, head-wise;
(b) whether the State of Karnataka has given Utilisation Certificate after expenditure under all
the schemes, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(c) whether the Government monitors the accounting of the budget given by them under various
heads, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) Under Central Sector Schemes of Department, no funds are allocated to states including
Karnataka.
However, the details of funds allocated/disbursed to various project implementing agencies
for the state of Karnataka during 2023-24 and 2024-25 for various schemes under Digital Bharat
Nidhi, DBN (erstwhile Universal Service Obligation Fund, USOF) is tabulated below:
Rupees in crores
Sl. No. Name of Schemes 2023-24 2024-25 Total
1 BharatNet 152.96 177.57 330.53
2 4G Saturation Mobile Project 88.76 105.38 194.14
3 Provision of Mobile Services in 354
0.24 0.24 0.48
Uncovered villages
Grand Total 241.96 283.19 525.15
(b) & (c) The funds disbursed from Digital Bharat Nidhi are monitored based on terms and
conditions of the agreement between Digital Bharat Nidhi and Project Implementing agencies which
also includes Utilization certificates.
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