**Summary:**
This document summarizes the Ministry of Communications' response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2845, answered on August 6, 2025, regarding rural broadband connectivity under the BharatNet project.
As of June 30, 2025, 214,325 Gram Panchayats (GPs) have been made service ready under BharatNet. State-wise details are available on the Digital Bharat Nidhi website (https://usof.gov.in/home). The Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) has been approved to extend optical fiber connectivity to approximately 265,000 GPs in a ring topology and connect the remaining non-GP villages (approximately 380,000) on demand. The program includes a construction period of three years and an operation and maintenance period of seven years.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Communications: A ministry within the Government of India responsible for communications.
Department of Telecommunications: A department under the Ministry of Communications responsible for telecommunications.
BharatNet Project: A project to provide broadband connectivity to Gram Panchayats in India.
SHRI SUDAMA PRASAD: Member of Parliament who raised the question regarding rural broadband connectivity.
DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR: Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development.
Gram Panchayats: Village level local self-government institutions in India.
Digital Bharat Nidhi: Website providing details of GPs covered under BharatNet.
Amended BharatNet Program: An updated version of the BharatNet program to extend optical fiber connectivity to more Gram Panchayats and non-GP villages.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2845
ANSWERED ON 6TH AUGUST, 2025
RURAL BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY UNDER BHARATNET PROJECT
2845. SHRI SUDAMA PRASAD:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has taken cognizance of the media report that only 1.99 lakh
villages out of 6.5 lakh villages have broadband internet access under the BharatNet project, if so,
the details thereof and the steps taken along with the action taken reports thereon;
(b) whether the Government has conducted any assessment for the delay in achieving full rural
broadband connectivity under the project, if so, the details of the assessment report;
(c) if not, the reasons therefor;
(d) the details of broadband implementation under the project, State/district-wise; and
(e) targeted completion date of the BharatNet project and the details of the alternative measures
taken to expedite the progress?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) to (e) BharatNet is being implemented in phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to
Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country. Under BharatNet, total 2,14,325 GPs have been made service
ready as on 30.06.2025. State-wise details of GPs in the country under BharatNet is available on Digital
Bharat Nidhi website (https://usof.gov.in/home). Further, Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) has been
approved to provide Optical Fibre (OF) connectivity to approx. 2.65 lakh GPs in ring topology and to
connect remaining non-GP villages (approx. 3.8 lakh) on demand basis. The program envisages
construction period of three years Operation and Maintenance of remaining seven years.
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