FAST READ
- Digital Bharat Nidhi and Jharkhand partners signed an agreement to implement the Amended BharatNet Programme under a State-led model.
- Government of India financial support is Rs 1,684 crore, covering 4,395 Gram Panchayats and on-demand connectivity for 26,777 villages.
- The plan includes upgrading 4,387 Gram Panchayats from linear to ring topology and adding 8 newly created Gram Panchayats.
WHY IN NEWS
- The agreement converts the 2023 Amended BharatNet approval into a State-level implementation framework for Jharkhand.
- Reliable rural broadband is foundational for e-governance, education, telemedicine, digital payments and access to markets.
TOP DATA & FACTS
- The agreement was signed on 10 September 2026.
- Government of India support is Rs 1,684 crore.
- The total scope is 4,395 Gram Panchayats.
- 4,387 Gram Panchayats are to be upgraded from linear to ring topology.
- 8 newly created Gram Panchayats are included.
- 26,777 villages are to receive connectivity on a demand basis.
- The programme is expected to facilitate more than 4 lakh rural home-fibre connections with subsidy support.
- Implementation uses a State-led model.
- Jharkhand Digital Infrastructure Corporation Limited is the new SPV for implementation.
- Digital Bharat Nidhi operates under the Department of Telecommunications.
- BSNL is a party to the implementation agreement.
- The Union Cabinet approved the Amended BharatNet Programme on 4 August 2023.
- Digital Bharat Nidhi is the successor framework to the Universal Service Obligation Fund under the Telecommunications Act, 2023.
- Ring topology is intended to improve network resilience by providing alternative routing paths.
PRELIMS
- BharatNet focuses on rural broadband infrastructure.
- Digital Bharat Nidhi supports universal telecom service in underserved areas.
- Ring topology generally offers greater redundancy than a simple linear topology.
- Gram Panchayat connectivity and household last-mile connectivity are different layers.
- A State-led model gives the State implementation responsibilities within the national programme.
- Telemedicine and e-governance require reliable last-mile access, not merely backbone fibre.
QUICK REVISION
- Support: Rs 1,684 crore.