Parliament Question: Implementation of National Knowledge Network (NKN)

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 196 ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025 Implementation of National Knowledge Network (NKN)

196. SHRI DAGGUMALLA PRASADA RAO:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is implementing National Knowledge Network (NKN) component of National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (NMEICT);

(b) if so, the details of the funds allocated and utilized under this component, since the scheme's inception, year-wise;

(c) the details regarding list of implementing agencies of the scheme especially in Andhra Pradesh; (d) the details of funds released by the Government to these agencies and utilized thereof, especially in Andhra Pradesh, since the scheme's inception, year-wise;

(e) the details and total number of Colleges/Universities provided with internet connectivity under NKN in Andhra Pradesh, year-wise and district-wise; and

(f) the details and number of computers provided to these Colleges/Universities under NKN, since the scheme's inception, year-wise and State-wise? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)

(a) to (f) The National Knowledge Network (NKN), initiated by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), is a secure and high-speed digital backbone that empowers research, educational institutions and government organizations across India to share data and resources. The project has been extended till 31st March 2026 with a financial outlay of Rs. 7188 crores.

Under the connectivity component of National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (NMEICT) Scheme of Ministry of Education (MoE), funds are released to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) to provide 1 Gbps bandwidth NKN connectivity to various Higher Education Institutions across India including in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

As on date, a total of 1,817 links to Institutions are operational under NKN, including 371 links provided through NMEICT Scheme of the Ministry of Education, Government of India. In Andhra Pradesh, 56 institutions are provided high-speed internet connectivity through NKN including 17 through the NMEICT Scheme. The list of institutions with NKN connectivity under NMEICT Scheme in Andhra Pradesh is at Annexure I.

As on date, the fund released under the NMEICT scheme phase-III (2021-2026) for NKN connectivity is Rs. 170.34 Crores. *****Annexure I ANNEXURE REFERRED IN THE REPLY TO PART (a) TO (f) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 196 ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025 ASKED BY SHRI DAGGUMALLA PRASADA RAO, HON’BLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT REGARDING “IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIONAL KNOWLEDGE NETWORK (NKN)” List of institutions with NKN connectivity under NMEICT Scheme in Andhra Pradesh S. No. Name of the University/ Institute 1 Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU), Kakinada 2 Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapur 3 Dravidian University, Kuppam 4 Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU), Anantpur 5 Acharya Nagarjuna University, Nagarjuna Nagar 6 Krishna University, Machllipatnam 7 Vikrama Simhapuri University, Nellore 8 Andhra University, Visakhapatnam 9 Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa 10 Sri Padmavathi Mahila Visvavidyalayam, Tirupati 11 Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati Dr.N.T.R University of Health Sciences (NTRUHS) (Formerly: Andhra Pradesh University 12 of Health Sciences) 13 Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, Tirupati 14 Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Vidyagiri 15 Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation, Guntur 16 Vignan’s Foundation for Science, Technology and Research, Guntur 17 School of Planning and Architecture, Vijayawada *****