**Executive Summary**
This document presents the government's response to Starred Question No. 155 in the Lok Sabha, answered on December 10, 2025, regarding mobile network connectivity in remote areas of Ratlam-Jhabua-Alirajpur in Madhya Pradesh. It addresses concerns about the lack of mobile network connectivity and outlines government actions and plans to improve the situation, including surveys and installation of mobile towers. The Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region has provided a statement outlining the current status and future plans.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Current Coverage:** As of November 2025, 2,428 out of 2,450 villages in the Ratlam, Jhabua, and Alirajpur districts are covered with mobile connectivity.
* **Coverage for Uncovered Villages:**
* Mobile coverage for uncovered inhabited villages is provided by Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) based on techno-commercial viability.
* The Government assesses mobile coverage in rural and remote areas based on TSP inputs.
* Uncovered villages are surveyed to validate their status.
* Thereafter, uncovered villages are taken up for coverage under the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) funded 4G mobile connectivity schemes.
* **Government Initiatives:** The government, through the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), is implementing schemes to expand telecom connectivity by installing 4G mobile towers in rural, remote, and border areas.
* **Progress:** As of November 2025, 32 sites have been commissioned in Ratlam, Jhabua, and Alirajpur districts under DBN-funded mobile schemes, providing mobile coverage to 41 villages.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Citizens of Ratlam, Jhabua, and Alirajpur districts**
* **Impact:** The citizens in the specified districts benefit from improved mobile connectivity. For the uncovered villagers, improved connectivity is dependent on the techno-commercial viability and government schemes.
* **Action Required:** No immediate action is required from the citizens.
**Stakeholder: Telecom Service Providers (TSPs)**
* **Impact:** The TSPs are responsible for providing mobile coverage based on techno-commercial viability and government initiatives.
* **Action Required:** Survey uncovered villages to validate their mobile coverage status.
**Stakeholder: Government (Ministry of Communications)**
* **Impact:** The government is responsible for assessing mobile coverage, surveying uncovered villages, and implementing connectivity schemes through DBN.
* **Action Required:** Continue to implement the DBN-funded schemes to expand telecom connectivity.
Key Entities Referenced
Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN): Scheme funding 4G mobile connectivity, particularly in rural and remote areas.
Ministry of Communications: The concerned ministry responsible for mobile network connectivity.
Lok Sabha: Parliamentary body where the question regarding mobile network connectivity was raised.
Ratlam-Jhabua-Alirajpur: The specific area (Lok Sabha Constituency No. 24 in Madhya Pradesh) facing mobile network connectivity issues.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 155
ANSWERED ON 10TH DECEMBER, 2025
MOBILE NETWORK CONNECTIVITY IN REMOTE AREAS
†*155. SMT. ANITA NAGARSINGH CHOUHAN:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:
(a) whether lack of mobile network in many villages and inaccessible areas of Ratlam-Jhabua-
Alirajpur under Lok Sabha Constituency No. 24 is causing serious hardships to citizens and hindering
administrative works;
(b) if so, whether the Government is preparing any action plan to conduct a survey of the said
areas and install mobile towers there; and
(c) if so, the details thereof and the estimated time limit for providing network facility in the
said areas?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN
REGION
(SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA)
(a) to (c) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
1STATEMENT TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF LOK SABHA IN RESPECT OF PARTS
(a) to (c) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.155 FOR 10TH DECEMBER,
2025 REGARDING “MOBILE NETWORK CONNECTIVITY IN REMOTE AREAS.”
(a) As of November 2025, out of 2,450 villages, 2,428 villages are covered with mobile
connectivity in Ratlam, Jhabua and Alirajpur districts of Madhya Pradesh.
(b) & (c) Mobile coverage for any uncovered inhabited villages is provided by the Telecom
Service Providers (TSPs) based on the techno-commercial viability.
The Government, based on inputs from Telecom Service Providers, assesses mobile coverage
in rural and remote areas. Villages found uncovered are surveyed to validate their mobile coverage
status. Thereafter, uncovered villages are taken up for coverage under the Digital Bharat Nidhi
(DBN) funded 4G mobile connectivity schemes.
Government, through funding from Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), is implementing various
schemes for expansion of telecom connectivity through installation of 4G mobile towers in the rural,
remote and border areas of the country. As of November 2025, 32 sites have been commissioned in
Ratlam, Jhabua and Alirajpur districts under DBN funded mobile schemes, providing mobile
coverage to 41 villages.
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