Executive Summary:
This document presents the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology's response to questions regarding mobile and telephone connectivity in Indian households. It references data from the Comprehensive Annual Modular Survey (CAMS) 2022-23 and the Comprehensive Modular Survey: Telecom (CMS:T) conducted in 2025. It also details government projects and initiatives aimed at improving telecom services in rural and remote areas, with data up to June 30, 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
Household and Individual Connectivity:
* CAMS 2022-23 indicated that approximately 94.2% of rural and 97.1% of urban households possessed mobile or telephone connections.
* CAMS 2022-23 reported that 83.9% of individuals aged 15+ in rural areas and 92.4% in urban areas could use mobile phones.
* CMS:T 2025 showed that about 94.5% of rural and 96.7% of urban households had mobile or telephone connections.
* CMS:T 2025 reported that 82.9% of rural and 91.0% of urban individuals aged 15+ used mobile phones in the three months preceding the survey.
* Mobile phone usage among 15-24 year olds increased between 2022-23 and 2025 in both rural and urban areas.
Government Initiatives:
* The BharatNet project aims to provide broadband connectivity to Gram Panchayats (GPs) and proposes to connect remaining non-GP villages on demand. As of June 2025, 13,01,193 FTTH connections have been provided.
* Under 4G Saturation and other mobile projects, 21,748 mobile towers have been commissioned as of June 2025 to provide high-speed internet data and mobile services in uncovered rural areas.
* Submarine optical fibre cable (OFC) projects were commissioned between Chennai and Andaman Nicobar Islands (on 10.08.2020) and between Mainland Kochi and Lakshadweep Islands (on 03.01.2024) to improve data connectivity.
Funds Disbursed:
* The government disbursed Rs. 36,328.79 crore till 30.06.2025 under various mobile projects, including allocations for Telangana, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Assam.
Impact Analysis:
Citizens/Households:
* Impact: Increased access to mobile and telephone connectivity, particularly in rural and remote areas. Enhanced access to high-speed internet and mobile services.
* Action Required: Utilize available infrastructure and services to enhance communication, access information, and participate in digital activities.
Telecom Service Providers:
* Impact: Opportunities for expansion and service improvement in rural and underserved areas through government-funded projects.
* Action Required: Participate in government projects, deploy infrastructure, and offer affordable services to connect more households and individuals.
Government (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology):
* Impact: Responsible for overseeing the implementation of connectivity projects and monitoring progress towards universal access to telecom services.
* Action Required: Continue to implement and monitor connectivity projects, allocate funds effectively, and address gaps in access and usage.
State Governments (Telangana, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Assam and others):
* Impact: Responsible for facilitating the implementation of connectivity projects within their respective states and ensuring that the benefits reach the intended beneficiaries.
* Action Required: Collaborate with the central government and telecom service providers, monitor progress, and address any challenges in implementation.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology: The Indian government ministry responsible for electronics and information technology policy.
National Statistics Office, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation: The government agency that conducted the Comprehensive Annual Modular Survey (CAMS) and Comprehensive Modular Survey: Telecom (CMS:T).
Comprehensive Annual Modular Survey (CAMS): A survey conducted by the National Statistics Office to collect data on various socio-economic indicators, including mobile phone usage.
Comprehensive Modular Survey: Telecom (CMS:T): A survey conducted by the National Statistics Office to gather telecom related statistics.
BharatNet project: A project to provide broadband connectivity to Gram Panchayats (GPs) in India.
Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN): A fund from Department of Telecommunications (DoT) used to provide mobile telephone connectivity in rural and remote areas.
Telangana: A state in India that received funds under various mobile projects.
Uttar Pradesh: A state in India that received funds under various mobile projects.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4510
TO BE ANSWERED ON: 20 .08.2025
MOBILE OR TELEPHONE CONNECTIONS TO HOUSEHOLDS
4510. SHRI CHAMALA KIRAN KUMAR REDDY:
SMT. D K ARUNA:
SHRI EATALA RAJENDER:
Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:
(a) whether according to the CAMS and other reports, 94.2 per cent of rural households and 97.1
per cent of urban households have mobile or telephone connections in their households and when
the Government look at people aged 15 years and above, 92.4 per cent in urban areas and 83.9 per
cent in rural areas can use mobile phones, however, a deeper look at the data shows that the use of
mobile phones is not as universal and if so, the details thereof; and
(b) the details of steps taken by the Government, results yielded till now along with the funds
sanctioned and spent thereon, State-wise particularly Telangana, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and
Assam?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI JITIN PRASADA)
(a): The National Statistics Office, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, conducted
the Comprehensive Annual Modular Survey (CAMS) during July 2022 – June 2023. The CAMS
2022–23 indicates that approximately 94.2% of rural and 97.1% of urban households possessed
mobile or telephone connections. Among persons aged 15 years and above, about 83.9% in rural
areas and 92.4% in urban areas reported the ability to use mobile phones. Further, 82.3% in rural
and 91.7% in urban areas reported using a mobile telephone with an active SIM card during the
three months preceding the date of the survey, at the all-India level.
Further, the Comprehensive Modular Survey: Telecom (CMS:T) was conducted by the National
Statistics Office during January – March 2025. Findings from the CMS:T show that about 94.5% of
rural households and 96.7% of urban households possessed mobile or telephone connections. While
the ability to use mobile phones by individuals was not compiled in CMS:T report, the percentage
of persons aged 15 years and above who reported use of mobile phone during the last three months
preceding the date of the survey was about 82.9% in rural areas and 91.0% in urban areas.
The age group of 15 years and above covers the entire adult population. Within this broad segment,
the younger cohort aged 15–24 years has shown an increase in mobile phone usage between 2022–
23 and 2025.Use of mobile phone during last three months preceding the date of survey in the age group
15-24 years
Survey Rural Urban
CAMS, 2022-23 92.6 95.3
CMS: T, 2025 96.9 97.3
(b): To improve telecom services in commercially unviable rural and remote areas of the
country and to provide mobile services in uncovered villages, Government has taken a
number of projects and initiatives. Details of these Government funded major projects
are as follows:
(i) BharatNet project is being implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband
connectivity to Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country. The connectivity to remaining non-
GP villages is proposed to be provided on demand basis from their respective GPs. As on
June-2025; 13,01,193 Fibre to The Home (FTTH) connections have been provided under
BharatNet project in the country.
(ii) For provision of high-speed internet/ data and mobile services in uncovered remote & rural
areas of the country, various targeted mobile projects have been implemented. Under 4G
Saturation and other mobile projects, till June-2025, 21,748 mobile towers have been
commissioned in the country.
(iii) For providing high speed internet/ data connectivity to Andaman & Nicobar and
Lakshadweep Islands, submarine optical fibre cable (OFC) projects between Chennai and
Andaman & Nicobar Islands (2312 Km) and between Mainland (Kochi) and Lakshadweep
Islands (1869 km) have been commissioned on 10.08.2020 and 03.01.2024 respectively.
These optical fibre cable projects have facilitated faster roll out of mobile services (4G/5G)
and other high-speed data/internet services in the Islands.
(iv) Under various mobile projects, Government has disbursed Rs. 36,328.79 crore till
30.06.2025 including Telangana, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Assam. The state-wise
details are given in Annexure.
*******ANNEXURE
State-wise/ Scheme-wise funds sanctioned/ spent/ disbursed from Digital Bharat Nidhi
(DBN), DoT to provide Mobile/ Telephone connectivity in rural and remote areas of the
country as on 30.06.2025
SI. No. Funds sanctioned/ Spent/Disbursed
Name of States/UT
(Rs. In crores)
1 Andaman & Nicobar 2150.19
2 Andhra Pradesh 1951.44
3 Assam 786.46
4 Bihar 890.19
5 Chhattisgarh 1932.05
6 Centrally disbursed 9087.21
Gujrat (including Dadar Nagar Haveli and
7 1010.46
Daman & Diu)
8 Haryana 178.89
9 Himachal Pradesh 534.20
10 Jammu and Kashmir (including Ladakh) 563.58
11 Jharkhand 1911.21
12 Karnataka 913.24
13 Kerala 660.28
14 Lakshadweep 839.28
15 Madhya Pradesh 2237.88
16 Maharashtra (including Goa) 1757.74
17 NE-I (Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura) 1093.21
NE-II (Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur,
18 1538.34
Nagaland)
19 Odisha 1724.12
20 Punjab 1005.50
21 Rajasthan 817.83
22 Tamil Nadu 456.22
23 Telangana 348.06
24 Uttar Pradesh 1113.95
25 Uttarakhand 451.47
26 West Bengal (including Sikkim) 375.78
Grand total 36328.79
******