Parliament Question: Digital Village Project in Tamil Nadu

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2531 ANSWERED ON 16/12/2025 DIGITAL VILLAGE PROJECT IN TAMIL NADU

2531. Shri Malaiyarasan D:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a) the details and number of villages in Tamil Nadu and in the country where the Digital Village Project is fully operational with all planned digital facilities;

(b) the measures taken by the Government to ensure adequate internet bandwidth, electricity, and access to digital devices for all residents;

(c) whether special initiatives have been taken for women, students, and marginalized groups to ensure equitable access to digital services; and

(d) the steps proposed to address digital divide and infrastructure gaps in villages facing connectivity or resource constraints? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN)

(a) to (d): As informed by the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, for providing high bandwidth capacity internet/broadband connectivity and mobile services to remote & rural villages and islands in the country that currently lack coverage, a number of steps & projects have been taken up with funding from Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) [erstwhile Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)], Department of Telecommunications (DoT). BharatNet project is being implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to all the Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country. As of Oct-2025; 2,14,843 GPs have been made service ready under BharatNet project in the country including 10,808 GPs in Tamil Nadu. Further, Amended BharatNet Program (ABP), approved by the Government on 04.08.2023, is under implementation for up-gradation Page 1 of 2of existing network of BharatNet Phase-I and Phase-II, creation of network in balance GPs (around 42,673 GPs), connectivity to remaining non-GP villages on demand basis from their respective GPs.

Under 4G Saturation Project and other mobile projects, as of Oct-2025, 22,987 mobile towers have been commissioned in uncovered remote & rural areas of the country under various Government funded mobile projects. Commissioning of submarine optical fibre cable on 10.08.2020 between Chennai and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (2312 Km) for providing high speed internet/data connectivity to Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Commissioning of Submarine OFC connectivity between Mainland (Kochi) and Lakshadweep Islands (1869 km) on 03.01.2024. Creation of 225Km OFC network in Lakshadweep Islands for provision of FTTH & other services. These optical fibre cable projects have facilitated faster roll out of fixed line broadband/internet services, mobile services (4G/5G) and other high-speed data services in the Islands.

The Department of Rural Development with the support of the National Informatics Centre, Centre for Development of Advance Computing and Digital India Corporation has designed, developed and implemented various IT driven solutions for implementation of its flagship schemes. In order to mitigate digital divide and to ensure last mile reach, the digital governance solutions delivering services at Gram Panchayat level are developed with offline capabilities, divyang friendly platforms and simple user interface with multi-lingual facilities. This ensures that access to these solutions are not limited to internet connected areas but also to remote or non-connected areas.

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