Archive · 29 Jan 2026
BharatNet Connectivity Reaches 97% of Gram Panchayats
The BharatNet project is a big plan to bring internet to all villages in India.
The government has connected 97% of the villages so far.
That means out of 2,22,000 villages, 2,15,000 now have internet.
The remaining 7,000 villages are hard to reach because they are in hilly areas or have other problems.
The government is working to fix these issues.
They made new rules to help with setting up the internet infrastructure.
The project started in 2011 and is being done in steps.
BharatNet connectivity has been provided to 97% of the identified gram panchayats.
Approximately 2,15,000 out of 2,22,000 gram panchayats have been connected.
Challenges in reaching the remaining 7,000 gram panchayats include difficult terrains and left-wing extremism.
The government issued a gazette notification to ease the process of obtaining the Right of Way for telecom infrastructure.
The BharatNet project was approved in 2011 and is being executed by Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL).
- Who
- Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia
- What
- BharatNet connectivity provided in 97% of gram panchayats
- When
- As of January 29
- Where
- Across India
- Why
- To provide non-discriminatory access to broadband connectivity in rural areas
- Total Gram Panchayats Identified
- 2,22,000
- Gram Panchayats with Connectivity
- 2,15,000
- Percentage of Completion
- 97%
- Remaining Gram Panchayats
- 7,000
- Challenges
- Difficult terrains, left-wing extremism
- Project Approval Date
- October 25, 2011
- SPV for Execution
- Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL)