BharatNet connects 2.15 lakh Gram Panchayats as rural digital network expands

March 8, 2026 11:55 AM

BharatNet connects 2.15 lakh Gram Panchayats as rural digital network expands

India’s large-scale push to expand optical fibre networks, 5G services and digital public infrastructure has connected more than 2.15 lakh Gram Panchayats through the BharatNet programme, the government said on Sunday. According to an official statement, optical fibre deployment across the country increased from 19.35 lakh route kilometres in 2019 to 42.36 lakh route kilometres in 2025. At the same time, 5G connectivity now covers 99.9 per cent of districts, supported by more than 5.18 lakh ...

5G Services Now Available in 99.9% of Districts Across India, Government Confirms

December 12, 2025 11:49 AM

5G Services Now Available in 99.9% of Districts Across India, Government Confirms

India’s 5G rollout has reached near-universal coverage, with services now available in 99.9% of the country’s districts, the government informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar said all States and Union Territories are currently covered under the 5G network. As of 31 October 2025, Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) have installed 5.08 lakh 5G Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) across rural and urban regions. O...

Tribal development accelerates with 200% rise in budget over a decade

July 22, 2025 5:25 PM

Tribal development accelerates with 200% rise in budget over a decade

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has witnessed a decade of transformative growth, backed by a significant expansion in its financial allocation and outreach. From 2013-14 to 2025-26, the ministry’s budget surged by over 200%, rising from ₹4,296 crore to ₹14,926 crore. This rise in funding has enabled wide-ranging initiatives targeting the holistic development of tribal communities across India. Speaking at the Aadi Mahotsav in February 2025, President Droupadi Murmu praised the decade’s a...

Digital transformation in 11 years of Modi govt: Over 42 lakh route km optical fibre cable laid

June 9, 2025 3:35 PM

Digital transformation in 11 years of Modi govt: Over 42 lakh route km optical fibre cable laid

India has undergone a remarkable digital transformation over the past eleven years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, marked by unprecedented growth in broadband and mobile connectivity across the country. A key pillar of this revolution is the BharatNet project, one of the world’s largest rural telecom initiatives, aimed at connecting all Gram Panchayats with high-speed internet. So far, more than 42 lakh km of Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) has been laid — almost 11 times the d...