Parliament Question: Subsidies to telecom operators in Odisha

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 216 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12TH MARCH, 2026 SUBSIDIES TO TELECOM OPERATORS IN ODISHA 216 SHRI NIRANJAN BISHI:

Will the Minister of Communications be pleased to state:

(a) whether any special concessions or subsidies are provided to telecom operators for service delivery in Scheduled Areas of Odisha; and

(b) if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION (SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA)

(a) & (b) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

1STATEMENT TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF RAJYA SABHA IN RESPECT OF PARTS

(a) & (b) OF THE RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 216 FOR 12TH MARCH, 2026 REGARDING “SUBSIDIES TO TELECOM OPERATORS IN ODISHA.”

(a) & (b) Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) has the mandate to support universal service by promoting access and delivery of telecommunication service in underserved rural, remote and urban areas of the country. As on 28.2.2026, 34,780 mobile towers have been planned under 12 DBN- funded mobile tower projects to cover 46,331 villages in underserved rural and remote areas across the country, out of which 5,182 mobile towers have been planned for the State of Odisha to cover 7,157 villages, including 4,470 mobile towers in 13 districts of Odisha whose areas are notified under the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.

As on 28.2.2026, funds amounting to ₹2,229.35 crore have been disbursed from DBN to telecom operators for providing mobile services in rural and remote areas in the State of Odisha, including ₹1,859.95 crore for the aforesaid districts of Odisha whose areas are notified under the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.

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