Lok Sabha Question No. 5324 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-25
Subject: Support to Economic activities and Digital Inclusion
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Mrs Ruchi Vira

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5324 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 TH  MARCH, 2026

## SUPPORT TO ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES AND DIGITAL INCLUSION

## †5324. MRS RUCHI VIRA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has assessed the adequacy and reliability of telecommunications and postal service infrastructure for small businesses, traders and service consumers in Muradabad district of Uttar Pradesh;

(b) if  so,  the  details  of  the infrastructure upgradation  measures undertaken to identify service gaps, improve coverage and enhance service quality in the district; and

(c) the details of the future communication expansion measures  proposed  by the Government to support economic activities and digital inclusion?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) The Government assesses telecom coverage based on inputs from Telecom Service Providers, and uncovered villages are taken up for providing mobile connectivity through Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) funded schemes. As of February 2026, all 1,164 villages (as per data of Registrar General  of  India)  in  Moradabad  district  are  covered  with  4G  and  987  villages  with  5G  mobile connectivity. Further, all 589 Gram Panchayats have been made service-ready under BharatNet.

The  postal  infrastructure  in  Moradabad  Postal  Division  adequately  caters  to  consumers, including  small  businesses  and  traders,  through  a  widespread  network  of  post  offices.  Parcel operations have been strengthened under the Mail Parcel Optimization Project (MPOP) with facilities like a Level-2 Parcel Hub, Nodal Delivery Centre, and Parcel Packaging Unit to support efficient handling and small businesses. Mail processing has been modernized through infrastructure and IT upgrades under the Mail Network Optimization Project (MNOP). Additionally, a Dak Ghar Niryat Kendra (DNK) has been established to promote exports by local traders. Moradabad Postal Division has  also  expanded  Business  Post  and  Book  Now  Pay  Later  (BNPL)  services,  while  enabling widespread  digital  payments  and  financial  services,  thereby  enhancing  convenience,  supporting businesses, and promoting financial inclusion.

(c) Government, with funding from Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), has approved various schemes for expansion of telecom connectivity through installation of mobile towers in the uncovered rural and remote areas of the country.  As on 28.02.2026, 24,198 mobile towers have been commissioned across the country under various DBN funded schemes, providing mobile connectivity to 33,984 villages/locations including 352 villages/locations in Uttar Pradesh.

BharatNet project is being implemented in a phased manner to create network to connect all the Gram Panchayats (GPs)/ Villages with broadband in the country including Uttar Pradesh. In addition,  the  Union  Cabinet  has  approved  Amended  BharatNet  Program  for  provisioning  of connectivity to all GPs in the country in ring topology including upgrading existing network and connectivity to about 3.8 Lakh non-GP villages on demand basis.

Revised Quality  of  Service  (QoS)  benchmarks  effective  from  01.10.2024  have  also  been introduced by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) for improved Quality of Service and service delivery.

In  addition,  Department  of  post  continues  to  expand  infrastructure,  enhance  last-mile connectivity through a strengthened parcel and logistics network to support e-commerce, MSMEs and local  industries  thereby  facilitating  market  access  for  small  businesses;  promotion  of  digital payment systems and mobile based applications and capacity building measures to improve service delivery of postal products.

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