**Executive Summary**
On March 18, 2026, Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia informed the Lok Sabha of significant progress in expanding mobile connectivity across India’s border villages. The initiative, framed under the "Vibrant Villages Programme," prioritizes last-mile connectivity and technological self-reliance through indigenous infrastructure. Key achievements include near-total coverage in Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, the financial revival of BSNL, and the implementation of the Telecommunications (Right of Way) Rules, 2024.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Border Connectivity Progress**
* **Coverage Statistics:** 684 out of 705 identified border villages in Uttarakhand have been connected; Rajasthan has achieved 97.28% mobile coverage in its border regions.
* **New Paradigm:** Villages within 0–50 km of international boundaries are now classified as "first villages" rather than "last villages" to prioritize their development.
* **Digital Bharat Nidhi:** This fund supports multiple schemes to expand connectivity in rural, remote, and border areas where commercial viability is a challenge.
**BSNL Revival and Technical Self-Reliance**
* **Indigenous Technology:** India has developed an indigenous 4G telecom stack for BSNL, promoting domestic manufacturing of critical equipment.
* **Financial Turnaround:** BSNL recorded quarterly net profits in FY 2024–25 for the first time in nearly 18 years, with its subscriber base growing from 8.55 crore to 9.27 crore.
* **Infrastructure Rollout:** 100,000 4G towers have been deployed, with plans to introduce 5G services once the 4G network stabilizes.
**Legislative and Policy Reforms**
* **Simplified Rules:** The Telecommunications (Right of Way) Rules, 2024, notified under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, facilitate faster infrastructure rollout.
* **Regulatory Changes:** Amendments to licensing conditions have removed previous restrictions on installing mobile towers near international borders.
* **Gati Shakti Sanchar Portal:** Launched to streamline and accelerate approvals for right-of-way applications.
**National Digital Infrastructure**
* **BharatNet:** Over 215,000 Gram Panchayats are connected under an expanded initiative with an outlay of ₹1.39 lakh crore.
* **Affordability:** Data costs in India have been reduced by nearly 97% over the last decade, enabling large-scale services like UPI and Direct Benefit Transfers.
**Impact Analysis**
**Border Village Residents**
**Impact**
Residents gain access to essential digital services such as UPI and Direct Benefit Transfers. The shift in developmental priority to "first villages" enhances both local economic development and national security.
**Action Required**
Utilize the newly established digital infrastructure for social and economic participation.
**Telecom Service Providers (TSPs)**
**Impact**
TSPs benefit from eased licensing conditions near borders and a faster approval process for infrastructure via the Gati Shakti Sanchar Portal and new RoW rules.
**Action Required**
Expand network coverage in uncovered inhabited villages based on techno-commercial viability and available government funding.
**BSNL**
**Impact**
The organization has seen a resurgence in consumer confidence and a return to profitability, supported by the rollout of indigenous 4G technology.
**Action Required**
Continue the expansion of the 4G tower network and manage the transition to 5G services following network stabilization.
**Government Agencies (Ministry of Communications / Digital Bharat Nidhi)**
**Impact**
These bodies are responsible for the strategic oversight and funding of inclusive digital infrastructure to ensure nationwide last-mile connectivity.
**Action Required**
Continue targeted interventions in remaining uncovered villages and oversee the upgrade of the BharatNet network to a ring topology for better reliability.
Key Entities Referenced
Telecommunications Act, 2023: The primary legislative framework under which the Telecommunications (Right of Way) Rules, 2024 were introduced to streamline and accelerate telecom infrastructure rollout.
Vibrant Villages Programme: A strategic developmental initiative that prioritizes providing telecom and digital connectivity to villages located within 0 to 50 kilometres of India's international boundaries.
Digital Bharat Nidhi: A government funding mechanism used to support and approve multiple schemes for expanding mobile connectivity in rural, remote, and border areas.
BharatNet: A national rural broadband program aimed at connecting Gram Panchayats, currently being upgraded with a ₹1.39 lakh crore outlay to ensure network redundancy.
BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited): The public sector enterprise leading the deployment of an indigenous 4G telecom stack and responsible for expanding mobile coverage in uncovered inhabited villages.
Ministry of Communications
Telecom expansion in border villages reflects
new development paradigm: Union Minister Shri
Jyotiraditya M. Scindia in Lok Sabha
Government reaffirms commitment under Prime Minister Shri
Narendra Modi leadership to ensure last-mile connectivity
nationwide
684 out of 705 border villages in Uttarakhand connected;
97.28% coverage achieved in Rajasthan border villages
Policy reforms and RoW rules accelerate Telecom expansion
in border regions
Posted On: 18 MAR 2026 5:58PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, Shri Jyotiraditya M.
Scindia, today informed the Lok Sabha of significant progress in expanding mobile connectivity across
India’s border villages, underscoring the Government’s sustained push towards inclusive digital
infrastructure.Responding to a question on mobile tower connectivity in border villages, the Union Minister explained
that villages located within 0 to 50 kilometres from the first habitation from international boundary are
classified as border villages. He noted that, under the Vibrant Villages Programme, these settlements are
no longer regarded as the “last villages” of the country, but rather as the “first villages”, reflecting a shift
in developmental priorities.
The Union Minister highlighted that, under the visionary leadership of Narendra Modi, India has
consciously adopted a path of technological self-reliance in the telecom sector. He noted that the
development of an indigenous 4G telecom stack for BSNL represents a strategic move towards domestic
manufacturing of critical telecom equipment, placing India among a select group of nations with such
capabilities.
Referring to the revival of BSNL, the Union Minister stated that the public sector enterprise has recorded
quarterly net profits for the first time in nearly 18 years during FY 2024–25. Its subscriber base has grown
from 8.55 crore to 9.27 crore, reflecting renewed consumer confidence. He added that 100,000 4G towers
have been rolled out, with further expansion planned, and that 5G services will be introduced following
the stabilisation of the 4G network.
The Union Minister further informed that mobile coverage in uncovered inhabited villages is being
provided by Telecom Service Providers based on their techno-commercial viability. The Government,
through funding support from Digital Bharat Nidhi, has approved multiple schemes to expand telecom
connectivity in rural, remote and border areas, including Rajasthan.
He stated that 97.28% of villages and locations in the border areas of Rajasthan already have mobile
coverage. In addition, the Government has undertaken several key initiatives to further enhance mobile
connectivity across the country, including in border regions.
These include amendments to licensing conditions for Telecom Service Providers to remove restrictions
on the installation of mobile towers near international borders. Further, the Telecommunications (Right of
Way) Rules, 2024, notified under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, have been introduced to enable
faster and easier rollout of telecom infrastructure. The Gati Shakti Sanchar Portal has also been launched
to facilitate quicker approvals for right-of-way applications.
Highlighting progress in Uttarakhand, the Union Minister stated that out of 705 identified border villages,
684 have already been provided with telecom connectivity. Efforts are ongoing to ensure coverage in the
remaining villages, including through targeted interventions under the Digital Bharat Nidhi scheme.
The Union Minister emphasised that India today has one of the most extensive telecom networks globally,
enabling large-scale digital services such as UPI and Direct Benefit Transfers. He noted that this
transformation has positioned India as a global leader in digital communications, driven by affordability,
scale and rapid technological adoption.
On rural broadband connectivity, he highlighted progress under the BharatNet programme, noting that
over 215,000 Gram Panchayats have already been connected. The expanded BharatNet initiative, with an
outlay of approximately ₹1.39 lakh crore, is among the largest such programmes globally. The network is
being upgraded to a ring topology to ensure redundancy and reliability, with additional villages being
connected on a demand-driven basis.
The Union Minister also underlined that India’s telecom revolution over the past decade has reduced data
costs by nearly 97 per cent, while significantly expanding mobile infrastructure and enabling rapid
nationwide rollout of 5G services.He concluded by reaffirming the Government’s commitment, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri
Narendra Modi, to ensuring last-mile connectivity across all regions of the country, particularly in border
and remote areas, thereby advancing both development and national security objectives.
(LS-STARRED QUESTION NO. 364/ 18-03-2026)
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