Lok Sabha Question No. 238 (STARRED), answered on 2024-12-11
Subject: Digital India Campaign
Ministry: COMMUNICATION
Asked by: Shri Shankar Lalwani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 238 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 TH  DECEMBER, 2024

## DIGITAL INDIA CAMPAIGN

## †*238.  SHRI SHANKAR LALWANI:

| Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:                                            |
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| (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;                                   |
| (c) the details of steps being taken by the Government to improve the quality of telecom services; |
| (d) whether the Government has formulated any scheme for investment and employment in BSNL; and    |
| (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?                                   |
| MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION (SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA)  |
| (a) to (e) 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 (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 238 FOR 11 TH  DECEMBER, 2024 REGARDING 'DIGITAL INDIA CAMPAIGN.'

(a) & (b) Several schemes/projects are being implemented under Digital India programme to improve the digital literacy and e-governance services for providing digital facilities in rural and remote areas such as:

-  Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan (PMGDISHA)
-  National Knowledge Network
-  Bhashini
-  National Digital Literacy Mission
-  Aadhaar
-  Common Services Centres (CSC)
-  DigiLocker
-  Unified Mobile App for New-Age Governance (UMANG)
-  myScheme
-  Unified Payment Interface
-  Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing
-  MeriPehchaan
-  e-Hospital/Online Registration System (ORS)
-  eSanjeevani
-  Jeevan Pramaan

Further, to improve the internet connectivity Government is implementing various schemes/projects under Digital Bharat Nidhi (erstwhile USOF) through installation of mobile towers in rural, remote and hilly areas of the country. The 4G Saturation project is for provisioning of 4G mobile connectivity in 24,680 uncovered villages in the country. Further, the Union Cabinet has approved the Amended BharatNet Program with funding of ₹1,39,579 crore for extending the scope of BharatNet to provide broadband connectivity to all 2.64 lakh Gram Panchayats  and approximately 3.8 lakh villages on demand basis across 28 States and 8 UTs.

(c)   Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) monitors the performance of service providers against the benchmark for various Quality of Service (QoS) parameters by way of Quality of Service regulations issued from time to time.

Recently on 02.08.2024, TRAI has notified Standards of Quality of Service of Access (Wireline and Wireless) and Broadband (Wireline and Wireless) Service Regulations, 2024, effective from 1 st October 2024, which are more stringent than earlier as they  give better  insight into the network performance of Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) at each Base Transceiver Station (BTS) level. The new QoS Regulation issued by TRAI replaces three separate regulations and is a common regulation for Wireline, Wireless Access and Broadband Services.

(d) & (e) Government  has  approved  the  revival  of  BSNL  which  inter-alia  provides  for administrative allotment of spectrum, de-stressing BSNL balance sheet, infusion of fresh capital in the Company for upgrading BSNL services, settlement of AGR dues, provisions of CAPEX, increase in authorized share capital, redemption of preference shares, merger of BBNL with BSNL etc.

Keeping in view the business needs of BSNL and convergence of services and rapid evolution of telecom equipment and operations, the current skilled workforce in BSNL is adequate to handle the ongoing work requirements in BSNL.

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