In a major boost to rural digitalization, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced that BharatNet has successfully connected 2.14 lakh gram panchayats, significantly narrowing India’s digital divide. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Scindia described the initiative as a flagship program under the Modi government, aimed at providing high-speed internet to every citizen.
Launched as one of the globe’s most ambitious connectivity projects, BharatNet uses optical fiber infrastructure to link rural areas. With 2.56 lakh gram panchayats in total, Phases I and II have covered nearly 84% at a cost of Rs 42,000 crore, transforming how rural India accesses the digital world.
Scindia shared impressive statistics: mobile users grew from 93 crore to 1.2 billion since 2014, penetration from 75% to 92%. Internet subscribers exploded from 25 crore to over 1 billion (20% to 71.8% penetration), and broadband from 6 crore to 1 billion, with speeds averaging 61.55 Mbps.
The minister also unveiled future goals under NBM 2.0. National fixed broadband speed targets 100 Mbps by 2030. Currently, 42,000 villages enjoy 95% OFC uptime as of December 2025, expanding to 2.7 lakh by 2030. Rural internet penetration per 100 people, now at 47.16, will hit 60.
These milestones underscore India’s commitment to inclusive growth, enabling e-governance, telemedicine, and online education in remote corners, fostering a truly connected nation.