## Policy Summary: BSNL Operations and Employee Matters (August 6, 2025)
This document summarizes key information regarding Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) operations and employee-related matters, as addressed in Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2849 on August 6, 2025.
**4G/5G Rollout:** BSNL is deploying indigenously developed 4G sites nationwide, aligning with the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. As of June 30, 2025, 95,537 4G sites have been installed, with 90,035 sites operational. The deployed equipment is technologically upgradable to 5G.
**Contractual Employees:** BSNL does not directly employ contract workers. Non-core activities such as repair, maintenance, housekeeping, and security are managed through Service Level Agreements. Therefore, there are no plans to regularize contract employees.
**Pay Structure:** BSNL employees are governed by the Industrial Dearness Allowance (IDA) pattern, and there are no plans to transition them to the Central Pay Commission (CPC) format.
**Non-Executive Employee Stagnation:** Approximately 12,000 non-executive employees out of a total of 30,000 are experiencing pay stagnation due to the non-revision of pay scales. This is attributed to BSNL's poor financial condition, which prevents it from meeting the affordability criteria set by the Department of Public Enterprises. Currently, there are no plans to implement a promotion policy to address this stagnation.
**Minister Responsible:** Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development.
Key Entities Referenced
BSNL: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, an Indian state-owned telecommunications company.
4G: Fourth generation of mobile telecommunications technology, being rolled out by BSNL.
5G: Fifth generation of mobile telecommunications technology, upgradable from the 4G equipment being deployed by BSNL.
SHRI BRIJMOHAN AGRAWAL: Member of Lok Sabha who raised the question about BSNL contractual employees.
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT: Designation of the minister answering the question in the Lok Sabha.
DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR: Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development.
Atmanirbhar Bharat: Initiative of the Government of India promoting self-reliance in various sectors, including telecommunications equipment.
Industrial Dearness Allowance IDA: Allowance pattern governing BSNL employees, different from the Central Pay Commission (CPC).
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2849
ANSWERED ON 6TH AUGUST, 2025
CONTRACTUAL EMPLOYEES IN BSNL
†2849. SHRI BRIJMOHAN AGRAWAL:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:
(a) whether there has been inordinate delay in rolling out of the 4G and 5G by BSNL mainly
due to shift towards indigenous equipment and challenges pertaining to their development and
deployment and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the number of contractual employees in BSNL along with the date of induction into service,
State-wise;
(c) whether there is any plan to regularise the services of these employees;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether BSNL employees are governed by Industrial Dearness Allowance (IDA) pattern in
place of Central Pay Commission and if so, whether there is any plan to bring back them under the
CPC format along with details thereof;
(f) whether there are about 30,000 non-executive employees in BSNL out of which about 12,000
employees are facing the issue of stagnation and as a result they are not being provided annual
increments and whether there is any plan to implement any promotion policy for them; and
(g) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) In line with Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, BSNL has placed purchase order for indigenously
developed 4G sites for pan India deployment. Supply of 4G equipment has started from September
2023 and as on 30.06.2025, total 95,537 4G sites have been installed and 90,035 sites are ON-Air.
The equipment is 5G upgradable from technology perspective.
(b) to (d) BSNL does not employ contract workers directly. All non-core activities like repair
and maintenance, housekeeping, security etc. are on Service Level Agreement/ Service Model.
(e) BSNL employees are governed by Industrial Dearness Allowance (IDA) pattern and there is
no such plan to bring them under CPC format.
(f) & (g) The stagnation of pay of non-executives is due to non-revision of pay scales due to
poor financial condition of BSNL, as BSNL does not meet the affordability criteria prescribed by the
Department of Public Enterprises.
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