Executive Summary:
This document provides the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4588 regarding broadband connectivity, Common Service Centres (CSCs), and digital access in the Tonk and Sawai Madhopur districts of Rajasthan as of June 2025. It outlines the progress of the BharatNet project, the availability of CSC data, and the steps taken to bridge the digital divide in these districts, including the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA). The PMGDISHA scheme concluded on March 31, 2024.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Broadband Connectivity (BharatNet Project):**
* Broadband services are available up to the Gram Panchayat (GP) level in Tonk and Sawai Madhopur.
* As of June 2025, 230 GPs in Tonk and 200 GPs in Sawai Madhopur are service-ready under the BharatNet project.
* Connectivity to non-GP villages will be provided on demand from their respective GPs.
* **Common Service Centres (CSCs):**
* Data on the number of CSCs, including district-wise details for Tonk and Sawai Madhopur as of June 30, 2025, is available on the website csc.gov.in.
* CSCs operate on a self-sustainable and entrepreneurship model.
* The CSC initiative aims to deliver e-services to rural citizens and expand the CSC network to the Gram Panchayat level.
* Over 800 services are delivered through CSCs, including government, financial, Aadhaar-related, social welfare, education, telemedicine, travel booking, and utility payment services.
* **Bridging the Digital Divide:**
* The BharatNet project is being implemented to provide broadband connectivity to all GPs, including those in Tonk and Sawai Madhopur.
* A project is underway to provide 4G mobile services in uncovered villages, including those in Tonk and Sawai Madhopur, with 17 mobile towers commissioned (10 in Tonk and 7 in Sawai Madhopur).
* The Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) was launched in 2017 to promote digital literacy in rural India and aimed to provide basic digital literacy to one person per household.
* 6.39 crore beneficiaries were trained under PMGDISHA across the country, including 97,296 in Tonk and 55,660 in Sawai Madhopur. The scheme concluded on March 31, 2024.
Impact Analysis:
* **Citizens of Tonk and Sawai Madhopur:**
* Impact: Increased access to broadband internet, digital services through CSCs, and improved digital literacy through PMGDISHA (until March 31, 2024).
* Action Required: Utilize available broadband services, access services through CSCs, and leverage digital literacy skills gained through PMGDISHA.
* **Department of Telecommunications (DoT):**
* Impact: Responsible for implementing the BharatNet project and the 4G mobile services project.
* Action Required: Continue to expand broadband connectivity to GPs and provide 4G mobile services in uncovered villages.
* **Common Service Centre (CSC) Operators:**
* Impact: Opportunity to deliver e-services to rural citizens and operate CSCs as self-sustainable businesses.
* Action Required: Continue providing e-services and expand the CSC network to the Gram Panchayat level.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology: The Indian government ministry responsible for electronics and information technology policy.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
Harish Chandra Meena: A member of parliament (MP) who raised a question in the Lok Sabha.
Jitin Prasada: The Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, who provided the answer to the parliamentary question.
Tonk, Rajasthan: A district in Rajasthan, India, mentioned in the context of broadband connectivity, CSCs, and digital access initiatives.
Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan: A district in Rajasthan, India, mentioned in the context of broadband connectivity, CSCs, and digital access initiatives.
BharatNet Project: A project by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to provide broadband connectivity to Gram Panchayats (GPs) in India.
Common Service Centres CSCs: An initiative to deliver e-services to rural citizens through a network of Common Service Centres.
† O.I.H.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4588
TO BE ANSWERED ON: 20 .08.2025
COMMON SERVICE CENTRES IN TONK AND SAWAI MADHOPUR
†4588. SHRI HARISH CHANDRA MEENA:
Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:
(a) the total number of villages connected with broadband internet service in Tonk and Sawai
Madhopur districts under the BharatNet Project by June 2025;
(b) whether the Government maintains any data on the number of Common Service Centres
(CSCs) operational in the said districts at present and if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the various major steps taken by the Government to improve digital access and bridge the
digital divide in backward and minority dominated areas of the districts of Tonk and Sawai
Madhopur?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI JITIN PRASADA)
(a): In Tonk and Sawai Madhopur districts, broadband services under the BharatNet project are
currently available upto Gram Panchayat level (GPs). As in June 2025, 230 GPs in Tonk and 200
GPs in Sawai Madhopur districts of Rajasthan, have been made service ready by Department of
Telecommunications (DoT) under the BharatNet project.
(b): As on 30th June, 2025, total number of Common Services Centres (CSCs) across the country
along with state and district wise details including Tonk and Sawai Madhopur districts, are
available on the website https://csc.gov.in/.
(c): To improve digital access and bridge the digital divide across the country including backward
and minority dominated areas of the country, following steps have been taken by the government:
• BharatNet project is being implemented by DoT to provide broadband connectivity to all
Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country including Tonk and Sawai Madhopur districts of
Rajasthan. The connectivity to non-GP villages is to be provided on demand basis from
their respective GPs.
• The project for providing 4G mobile services in uncovered villages in remote and
difficult areas of the country, including districts of Tonk and Sawai Madhopur is being
implemented by DoT. Under the project, 17 mobile towers have been commissioned in
Tonk (10 mobile towers) and Sawai Madhopur (7 mobile towers) districts.
• Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) was launched by
the Government in 2017, to promote digital literacy in rural India. PMGDISHA scheme
aimed to provide basic digital literacy to rural households, ensuring one person per
household gains essential digital skills. A total number of 6.39 crore beneficiaries were
trained under the PMGDISHA scheme across the country including 97,296 beneficiaries
trained in Tonk and 55,660 beneficiaries trained in Sawai Madhopur districts of Rajasthan.
The scheme has been officially concluded on 31.03.2024.• Common Services Centres (CSCs) have been set up under an initiative of the Government
of India. CSCs operate on a self-sustainable and entrepreneurship model. The CSC
initiative aims to deliver e-services to rural citizens through CSCs and expand the CSC
network till the Gram Panchayat level. Over 800 services are being delivered through
CSCs, including government services, financial services and services related to Aadhaar,
various social welfare schemes, education, tele-medicine, travel bookings, utility
payments.
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