Lok Sabha Question No. 2851 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-10
Subject: Digital Village Project
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Malaiyarasan D

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2851 ANSWERED ON 10/03/2026

## DIGITAL VILLAGE PROJECT

## 2851. Shri Malaiyarasan D:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of villages in Tamil Nadu where the Digital Village Project is fully operational with all planned digital facilities;
- (b) the  measures  taken  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 February 2026, about 2,17,805 GPs have been made service ready under BharatNet project in the country including 10,886 GPs  in  Tamil  Nadu.  Further,  Amended  BharatNet  Program  (ABP), approved  by  the  Government  of  India  on  04.08.2023,  is  under implementation  for  up-gradation  of  existing  network  of  BharatNet Phase-I and Phase-II thereby ensuring creation of network in balance

GPs,  and  further  the  connectivity  to  remaining  non-GP  villages  on demand basis.

Under 4G Saturation Project and other mobile projects, till February  2026,  24,263  mobile  towers  have  been  commissioned  in uncovered remote  & rural  areas  of  the  country.  Commissioning  of submarine  optical  fibre  cable  between  Chennai  and  Andaman  & Nicobar  Islands  (2312  Km)  and  between  Mainland  (Kochi)  and Lakshadweep Islands (1869 km), and creation of 225Km OFC network in Lakshadweep Islands for provision of FTTH & other services 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  (NIC),  Centre  for  Development  of Advance Computing (CDAC) and Digital India Corporation (DIC) 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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