**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer to Unstarred Question No. 2848 in the Lok Sabha, addressed on December 17, 2025. It details the Indian government's initiatives to strengthen digital infrastructure in rural areas, specifically addressing broadband connectivity, Common Service Centres (CSCs), and digital services in Bihar, especially in border districts like Kishanganj. The document outlines various projects and programs aimed at ensuring reliable internet access, digital literacy, and secure digital transactions for rural citizens.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Digital India Programme:** Launched in 2015 to improve citizens' lives, grow the digital economy, and create jobs/investment through digital technology.
* **BharatNet:**
* Broadband connectivity is being provided to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) and villages.
* 2,14,904 GPs are service-ready as of November 30, 2025, including 8,340 in Bihar.
* All GPs in Bihar are planned to be covered under BharatNet.
* The Amended BharatNet Programme (ABP) ensures the upgrade of BharatNet Phase-I & II networks, creation of infrastructure in remaining GPs, and on-demand connectivity to non-GP villages.
* Optical fibre-based broadband access to 2.64 lakh Gram Panchayats across the country is being provisioned.
* **Mobile Connectivity:**
* 23,280 mobile towers have been commissioned as of November 30, 2025, including 386 in Bihar, under the 4G Saturation Project.
* In Kishanganj District, all 771 villages have 4G mobile services.
* 420 5G BTSs have been installed as of November 30, 2025.
* 99 new sites covering 148 villages and upgrade of 59 existing 2G sites to 4G have been approved in Bihar.
* **Submarine Optical Fibre Cable (SOFC):**
* Connects Andaman & Nicobar Islands (commissioned in 2020) and Lakshadweep Islands (commissioned in 2024) to the mainland.
* A 2,312 km SOFC was commissioned between Chennai and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands on August 10, 2020.
* A 1,869 km SOFC was commissioned between Kochi and the Lakshadweep Islands on January 3, 2024.
* **Common Services Centres (CSCs):**
* 5,67,468 CSCs are functioning across India as of October 31, 2025, with 4,41,270 functional at GP level.
* 55,557 CSCs are functional in Bihar, including 49,632 in rural areas and 1,066 in Kishanganj district (as on October 31, 2025).
* State/district details and service lists are available at www.csc.gov.in.
* CSCs significantly contribute to digital financial inclusion. Approximately 49.5 crore digital transactions were carried out through the network of CSCs during Financial Year 2024-25.
* **PMGDISHA:**
* The scheme aimed at providing basic digital literacy to rural households and concluded on March 31, 2024.
* 6.39 crore candidates were trained nationwide, including 74.12 lakh in Bihar and 1.23 lakh in Kishanganj.
* **National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT):**
* NIELIT operates 56 centres nationwide, including 3 in Bihar, with over 700 training partners and 9,000 facilitation centres.
* NIELIT has trained over 30,000 candidates in skill-based courses in Bihar in the last 3 years.
* The NIELIT Digital University (NDU) Platform provides online skill-based courses.
**Impact Analysis**
**Citizens in Rural and Remote Areas**
* **Impact:** Improved access to digital services, enhanced digital literacy, and more secure digital transactions.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the available digital infrastructure and resources for education, financial inclusion, and other citizen-centric services.
**Gram Panchayats (GPs) and Villages**
* **Impact:** Increased broadband connectivity and access to digital services.
* **Action Required:** Coordinate with relevant authorities to facilitate the implementation of BharatNet and other connectivity projects.
**State Government of Bihar**
* **Impact:** Enhanced digital infrastructure and service delivery capabilities across the state.
* **Action Required:** Support and collaborate with the central government to ensure the successful implementation of digital initiatives in Bihar.
**Common Service Centres (CSCs)**
* **Impact:** Increased opportunity to provide citizen-centric services and contribute to digital financial inclusion.
* **Action Required:** Maintain and improve service delivery, and adhere to relevant guidelines and standards.
Key Entities Referenced
Digital India Programme: A Government of India initiative launched in 2015 to improve citizens' lives through digital technology.
BharatNet: A project providing broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats and villages in India.
Common Services Centres (CSCs): Establishments providing citizen-centric services throughout the country.
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology: The ministry responsible for strengthening digital infrastructure and implementing related projects.
Bihar: A state in India where specific digital infrastructure projects are detailed, including BharatNet implementation and CSC functionality, with a focus on border districts like Kishanganj.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2848
TO BE ANSWERED ON: 17.12.2025
DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN RURAL AREAS
2848. DR. MOHAMMAD JAWED:
Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has undertaken any new initiatives to strengthen digital infrastructure in
rural and remote districts across the country and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the details of ongoing and proposed projects for expanding broadband connectivity, Common
Service Centres (CSCs), and digital services in Bihar, especially in border districts like Kishanganj; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to ensure reliable internet access, digital literacy and secure
digital transactions for rural citizens?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI JITIN PRASADA)
(a) to (c): The Government of India launched the Digital India Programme in 2015 to use digital
technology to improve citizens’ lives, grow the digital economy, and create jobs and investment.
Through focused interventions, the Government has significantly expanded digital connectivity and
service delivery in rural, remote and border districts, thereby bridging the urban-rural digital divide.
Strengthening digital infrastructure and connectivity
BharatNet: Broadband connectivity is being provided to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) and villages
in a phased manner. As on 30 November 2025, 2,14,904 GPs have been made service-ready,
including 8,340 GPs in Bihar. All GPs in Bihar are planned to be covered under BharatNet.
In Kishanganj District, all 771 villages are covered with 4G mobile services. Further, as on
30.11.2025, a total of 420 5G BTSs have been installed.
Amended BharatNet Programme (ABP) ensures the upgradation of BharatNet Phase-I & II
networks, creation of infrastructure in remaining GPs, and on-demand connectivity to non-GP
villages.
This programme provides for optical fibre-based broadband access to 2.64 lakh Gram Panchayats
across the country in ring topology, including those in Kishanganj District, Bihar.Mobile Connectivity: As on 30 November 2025, 23,280 mobile towers have been commissioned
nationwide, including 386 towers in Bihar, under the 4G Saturation Project and other mobile
initiatives.
Under the 4G Saturation Scheme, 99 new sites covering 148 villages and upgradation of 59
existing 2G sites to 4G have been approved in Bihar.
Submarine Optical Fibre Cable (SOFC): The project connects the Andaman & Nicobar Islands
(commissioned in 2020) and the Lakshadweep Islands (commissioned in 2024) with the mainland.
It uses robust, armoured fibre cables laid on the seabed to carry high-speed internet and telecom
signals, thereby benefitting remote regions.
A Submarine Optical Fibre Cable (SOFC) of 2,312 km was commissioned on 10 August 2020
between Chennai and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Another SOFC of 1,869 km was commissioned on 3 January 2024 between Kochi and the
Lakshadweep Islands, along with a 225 km internal optical fibre network across 11 islands to
support FTTH and other digital services.
Common Services Centres (CSCs): CSCs are established throughout the country to provide
citizen-centric services. The network of CSC continues to grow, with around 5,67,468 CSCs (as on
31.10.2025) presently functioning across India out of which 4,41,270 are functional at GP level.
More than 800 services are being delivered through these CSCs.
In Bihar, 55,557 CSCs are functional, including 49,632 CSCs in rural with 1,066 functional CSCs
in Kishanganj district of Bihar (as on 31st October 2025).
The State/district wise details of CSC and list of services are available at www.csc.gov.in.
Further, CSCs contribute significantly towards digital financial inclusion and service delivery to
the citizens. During Financial Year 2024-25, approximately 49.5 crore digital transactions were
carried out through the network of CSCs.
PMGDISHA: The scheme was aimed at providing basic digital literacy to rural households.
Nationwide, 6.39 crore candidates were trained, including 74.12 lakh in Bihar and 1.23 lakh in
Kishanganj.
The scheme concluded on 31.03.2024.
National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT): NIELIT operates 56
centres nationwide, including 3 centres in Bihar. There are over 700 training partners and 9,000
facilitation centres.
NIELIT has trained more than 30,000 candidates in various skill-based long-term, short-term and
awareness courses in the State of Bihar in the last 3 years.The NIELIT Digital University (NDU) Platform provides online skill-based courses in emerging
technologies.
Through these initiatives, the government is ensuring reliable internet access, enhanced digital
literacy, and secure digital transactions to rural and remote citizens.
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