Lok Sabha Question No. 459 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-27
Subject: Internet Connections
Ministry: COMMUNICATION
Asked by: Smt. Delkar Kalaben Mohanbhai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 459 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27 TH  NOVEMBER, 2024

## INTERNET CONNECTIONS

## †459   SMT. DELKAR KALABEN MOHANBHAI:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the rural villages in different parts of the country have been connected to the internet;
- (b) if so, the details of those villages in Dadra and Nagar Haveli which have internet connections and the present status of these connections in each such village;
- (c) whether the number of internet users has increased in Dadra and Nagar Haveli during the last five years and if so, the details thereof including the increase in number of such users/villages; and
- (d) the effective steps taken or being taken by the Government to provide internet connections in the said villages of each district in Dadra and Nagar Haveli?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)

(a) & (b) As  of  September  2024,  out  of  6,44,131  villages  in  the  country,  around  6,22,840 villages are having internet coverage.

All  95  villages  in  Dadra  and  Nagar  Haveli  (including  Daman  &  Diu),  are  covered  with internet connectivity as of Sep 2024.

- (c) Yes. As per information furnished by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), total Internet connections in Dadra and Nagar Haveli (including Daman & Diu) as of March 2024, are 8,35,247. Details in respect of internet users in Dadra and Nagar Haveli (including Daman and Diu) during the last five years are enclosed as Annexure-I .
- (d) As has been stated in (a) & (b) above, all the 95 villages in Dadra and Nagar Haveli (including Daman & Diu) are already covered with internet connectivity as of Sep 2024. However, Government through  funding  from  Digital  Bharat  Nidhi  (DBN)  is  implementing  various  projects  to  enhance internet connectivity in rural and remote areas of the country.

## Internet users in Dadra and Nagar Haveli (including Daman and Diu) during the last five years:

|   S.No. | As on   | State/UT                                    | Total                                                                           |
|---------|---------|---------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Mar'24  | Dadar& Nagar Haveli (including Daman & Diu) | 8,35,247                                                                        |
|       2 | Mar'23  | Dadar& Nagar Haveli (including Daman & Diu) | 6,34,560                                                                        |
|       3 | Mar'22  | Dadar& Nagar Haveli (including Daman & Diu) | 5,84,033                                                                        |
|       4 | Mar'21  | Dadar& Nagar Haveli (including Daman & Diu) | Information not available (State wise data was not reported during this period) |
|       5 | Mar'20  | Dadar& Nagar Haveli (including Daman & Diu) | Information not available (State wise data was not reported during this period) |

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