Parliament Question: Digital Connectivity Initiatives

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1407 ANSWERED ON 28.07.2026 DIGITAL CONNECTIVITY INITIATIVES 1407. SHRI MANICKAM TAGORE B: Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to State: (a) whether digital connectivity initiatives have been extended to Panchayats, if so, the details thereof and effectiveness in bridging rural-urban digital divide; (b) whether coordination between Central and State agencies is adequate for connectivity projects, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons for delays and inefficiencies in implementation; (c) whether public transport services have been expanded to link rural Panchayats with cities, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons for limited accessibility for rural populations; (d) whether private sector participation has been encouraged in rural connectivity projects, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons for underutilization of private investment opportunities; and (e) whether the Government has identified connectivity-deficient Panchayats, if so, the details thereof and the targeted measures proposed to address regional disparities in infrastructure development? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH) (a) & (b) The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has undertaken various digital governance initiatives under the e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project (MMP) to strengthen the functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions. The Ministry has developed digital applications such as eGramSwaraj, AuditOnline and mActionSoft to facilitate planning, financial management, accounting, audit, monitoring of works and service delivery by Panchayats. The Ministry also continuously upgrades these applications and integrates them with other Government digital platforms to improve efficiency, transparency and accountability in Panchayat governance. The Ministry works in coordination with the respective State Governments and other Ministries/Departments, wherever required, for the implementation and integration of digital governance initiatives. 1In addition, as per the information furnished by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), the BharatNet project is being implemented in a phased manner to create a broadband network connecting all Gram Panchayats (GPs) across the country. The BharatNet infrastructure is made available to Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) for extending broadband services to Gram Panchayats, rural areas, Government institutions, schools and other users. As of June 2026, out of 2,63,447 Gram Panchayats/ Traditional Local Bodies (TLBs) planned to be connected under BharatNet, 2,21,780 Gram Panchayats have been connected for the provision of high-speed broadband services. Further, the Amended BharatNet Programme (ABP) was approved by the Union Cabinet on 04.08.2023 for upgradation of the existing BharatNet Phase-I and Phase-II network, creation of network in the remaining Gram Panchayats, and operation and maintenance of the network for a period of ten years. (c) to (e) The development and operation of public transport services, including connectivity between rural areas and urban centres, as well as the promotion of private sector participation in connectivity infrastructure, are primarily the responsibility of the respective State Governments and the concerned Ministries/Departments. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj does not implement any scheme specifically for expansion of public transport services or connectivity infrastructure linking rural Panchayats with cities. Accordingly, information regarding the expansion of such services, private sector participation in such projects, and identification of connectivity-deficient Panchayats is not maintained by this Ministry. *** 2