Lok Sabha Question No. 2531 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-16
Subject: Digital Village Project in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Malaiyarasan D

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2531 ANSWERED ON 16/12/2025

## DIGITAL VILLAGE PROJECT IN TAMIL NADU

## 2531. Shri Malaiyarasan D:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  and  number  of  villages  in  Tamil  Nadu  and  in  the country where the Digital Village Project is fully operational with all planned digital facilities;
- (b) the  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  adequate internet bandwidth, electricity, and access to digital devices for all residents;
- (c) whether special initiatives have been taken for  women, students, and marginalized groups to ensure equitable access to digital services; and
- (d) the steps proposed to address digital divide and infrastructure gaps in villages facing connectivity or resource constraints?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN)

(a) to (d): As informed by the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, for providing high bandwidth capacity internet/broadband  connectivity  and  mobile  services  to  remote  & rural villages and islands in the country that currently lack coverage, a number of steps & projects have been taken up with funding from Digital  Bharat  Nidhi  (DBN)  [erstwhile  Universal  Service  Obligation Fund (USOF)], Department of Telecommunications (DoT). BharatNet project  is  being  implemented  in  a  phased  manner  to  provide broadband  connectivity  to  all  the  Gram  Panchayats  (GPs)  in  the country. As of Oct-2025; 2,14,843 GPs have been made service ready under BharatNet project in the country including 10,808 GPs in Tamil Nadu. Further, Amended BharatNet Program (ABP), approved by the Government on 04.08.2023, is under implementation for up-gradation

of  existing  network  of  BharatNet Phase-I and Phase-II, creation  of network  in  balance  GPs  (around  42,673  GPs),  connectivity  to remaining  non-GP  villages  on  demand  basis  from  their  respective GPs.

Under 4G Saturation Project and other mobile projects, as of Oct-2025, 22,987 mobile towers have been commissioned in uncovered  remote  &  rural  areas  of  the  country  under  various Government  funded  mobile  projects.  Commissioning  of  submarine optical fibre cable on 10.08.2020 between Chennai and Andaman & Nicobar  Islands  (2312  Km)  for  providing  high  speed  internet/data connectivity  to  Andaman  &  Nicobar  Islands.  Commissioning  of Submarine OFC connectivity between Mainland (Kochi) and Lakshadweep Islands (1869 km) on 03.01.2024. Creation of 225Km OFC network in Lakshadweep Islands for provision of FTTH & other services. These optical fibre cable projects have facilitated faster roll out of fixed line broadband/internet services, mobile services (4G/5G) and other high-speed data services in the Islands.

The Department of Rural Development with the support of the National Informatics Centre, Centre for Development of Advance Computing and Digital India Corporation has designed, developed and implemented  various  IT  driven  solutions  for  implementation  of  its flagship schemes. In order to mitigate digital divide and to ensure last mile  reach,  the  digital  governance solutions  delivering  services  at Gram Panchayat level are developed with offline capabilities, divyang friendly platforms  and  simple  user  interface  with multi-lingual facilities. This ensures that access to these solutions are not limited to  internet  connected  areas  but  also  to  remote  or  non-connected areas.

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