Agreement Signing for Amended BharatNet Program in Jharkhand
The Ministry of Communications announced the signing of a significant agreement for the implementation of the Amended BharatNet Program in Jharkhand under the State-led model. The agreement was signed on September 10, 2026, at Sanchar Bhawan, New Delhi, between Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) under the Department of Telecommunications, Government of Jharkhand, Jharkhand Digital Infrastructure Corporation Limited (JDICL), Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), and Jharkhand Communication Network Limited (JCNL).
The signing ceremony was attended by Shri Shyamal Misra, Administrator of Digital Bharat Nidhi; Shri Papa Sudhakara Rao, Director (Enterprise Business) of BSNL; and senior officers from DoT and BSNL. The agreement was formally signed by Shri Dinesh Kumar Garg, DDG (ABP Implementation-I) of Department of Telecommunications, and Mrs. Pooja Singhal, Secretary of Department of IT & e-Gov, Government of Jharkhand.
Financial Support and Program Scope
The Government of India has approved financial support of ₹1,684 crore for the implementation of the Amended BharatNet Program in Jharkhand. The program will cover 4,395 Gram Panchayats, which includes upgrading 4,387 Gram Panchayats from linear to ring topology to enhance network resilience, and including 8 newly created Gram Panchayats. Additionally, the program will provide on-demand connectivity to 26,777 villages to strengthen last-mile connectivity across the state.
Expected Outcomes and Benefits
The initiative is projected to facilitate more than four lakh rural home fibre connections with subsidy support from the Government of India. The enhanced infrastructure is expected to significantly improve the delivery of digital services including e-Governance, online education, telemedicine, digital payments, and citizen-centric services across rural and remote areas of Jharkhand. The program represents a shared commitment between the Central Government and the Government of Jharkhand toward strengthening rural digital infrastructure and promoting inclusive digital growth.
Background and Context
The Union Cabinet had approved the Amended BharatNet Program on August 4, 2023, with the objective of upgrading, consolidating, and expanding the existing BharatNet network to ensure robust and future-ready broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats and villages on a demand basis. Digital Bharat Nidhi (formerly USOF) was established under the Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Act, 2003, and later reconstituted under The Telecommunications Act, 2023, with a mandate to support universal service through promoting access and delivery of telecommunication services in underserved rural, remote, and urban areas.