Lok Sabha Question No. 233 (STARRED), answered on 2021-03-10
Subject: Issues pertaining to BSNL and MTNL
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Malook Nagar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 233 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 TH  MARCH, 2021

## ISSUES PERTAINING TO BSNL AND MTNL

## †*233. SHRI MALOOK NAGAR:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  number  and  details  of  the  employees  of  Bharat  Sanchar  Nigam  Limited  (BSNL)  and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) since the year 2014 till date;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to merge BSNL and MTNL and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the details of funds spent by BSNL and MTNL every year since 2010; and
- (d) the details of annual profit/loss registered by both the companies every year since 2010?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS, LAW & JUSTICE AND ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

- (a) to  (d) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF LOK SABHA IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) to  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  233  FOR  10 TH   MARCH,  2021 REGARDING 'ISSUES PERTAINING TO BSNL AND MTNL '.

(a) The  number  and  details  of  employees  of  Bharat  Sanchar  Nigam  Limited  (BSNL)  and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) since the year 2014 are as under:

| Year       | BSNL       | BSNL            | BSNL   | MTNL       | MTNL            | MTNL   |
|------------|------------|-----------------|--------|------------|-----------------|--------|
| (as on)    | Executives | Non- Executives | Total  | Executives | Non- Executives | Total  |
| 31.03.2014 | 47768      | 190509          | 238277 | 5075       | 31448           | 36523  |
| 31.03.2015 | 46694      | 178818          | 225512 | 4534       | 29236           | 33770  |
| 31.03.2016 | 44906      | 166180          | 211086 | 4354       | 26716           | 31070  |
| 31.03.2017 | 45354      | 151094          | 196448 | 3925       | 23994           | 27919  |
| 31.03.2018 | 48455      | 135067          | 183522 | 3561       | 21630           | 25191  |
| 31.03.2019 | 47116      | 119858          | 166974 | 3127       | 18581           | 21708  |
| 31.03.2020 | 30887      | 38937           | 69824  | 1288       | 2897            | 4185   |

(b) The Government approved the revival plan for BSNL and MTNL on 23.10.2019 which interalia  included  in-principle  approval  for  merger  of  BSNL  and  MTNL.  However,  due  to  financial reasons including high debt of MTNL, the merger of MTNL with BSNL is deferred. However, close co-operation and service integration between BSNL and MTNL has been undertaken.

(c) & (d) The  details  of  expenditure  and  annual  profit/loss  for  the  financial  year  2010-11  to 2019-20 of BSNL and MTNL are as under:

(in Rs. crores)

| Financial Year           | BSNL              | BSNL           | MTNL              | MTNL           |
|--------------------------|-------------------|----------------|-------------------|----------------|
|                          | Total expenditure | Profit/ (Loss) | Total expenditure | Profit/ (Loss) |
| 2010-11                  | 36,002            | (6384)         | 6314              | (2802)         |
| 2011-12                  | 36,586            | (8851)         | 6720              | (4110)         |
| 2012-13                  | 34,899            | (7884)         | 7836              | (5321)         |
| 2013-14                  | 34,929            | (7019)         | 5480              | 7825           |
| 2014-15                  | 37,291            | (8234)         | 5284              | (2893)         |
| 2015-16                  | 37,270            | (4875)         | 5054              | (2006)         |
| 2016-17                  | 36,327            | (4793)         | 5049              | (2971)         |
| 2017-18                  | 33,809            | (7993)         | 4584              | (2971)         |
| 2018-19                  | 34,225            | (14904)        | 4293              | (3398)         |
| 2019-20                  | 34,406            | (15500)        | 3981              | (3811)         |
| 2020-21* (up 30.09.2020) | 12,368            | (3607)         | 2111              | (1220)         |

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