Punjab Becomes First State to Implement Amended Bharat Net Scheme Statewide

Punjab has emerged as the first state in India to successfully implement the amended Bharat Net Scheme across its entire territory. This landmark achievement enables live monitoring of the border state from any location in the country and marks a significant milestone in bridging the digital divide in rural India. The scheme aims to provide broadband connectivity to Gram Panchayats, households, and institutions while supporting e-governance and e-health services across rural areas.

Implementation Highlights

• Award Recognition: Chief Secretary KAP Sinha received the award for Punjab’s exemplary implementation from Ajay Kumar Kararha, CGM, BSNL Punjab Circle.
• Village Coverage: Broadband services have been rolled out in 43 shadow areas of the state & Only one village remains, with complete coverage expected by end of November 2025.
• Digital Infrastructure: Enables live monitoring of border areas & Facilitates e-governance and e-health services in rural regions.

About Bharat Net Scheme

The Bharat Net Scheme is a flagship initiative by the Government of India, aimed at transforming India’s rural digital infrastructure.

Key Objectives

• Provide broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats.
• Extend digital services to households and institutions in rural areas.
• Promote e-health, e-governance, and digital education services.

Key Benefits of the Scheme

• 1. First State‑wide Roll‑out: Punjab has achieved a milestone by being the first state to implement the amended BharatNet scheme across the entire state. Border villages and remote pockets are now being covered, signalling a major digital connectivity drive.
• 2. Rural Reach & Border Monitoring: Internet and broadband services have already reached 43 designated “shadow” areas, with only one village remaining at the time of the report. By end of November, every village is expected to be under the scheme. With the support of broadband connectivity, even the border state can be monitored live from any location in the country.
• 3. Governance and Technology Integration: The scheme’s implementation allows for improved delivery of e‑governance, e‑health and other digital services in rural Punjab. It also enhances the technological backbone for public programmes and monitoring.
• 4. Model for Other States: Punjab’s success provides a replicable model for other states to follow, especially in terms of integrating fibre‑based broadband in rural settings and enabling last‑mile connectivity.

Static Facts

• Punjab is the first state in India to implement the amended BharatNet scheme statewide.
• Implementation covers nearly all villages in Punjab, with just one village remaining at the time of reporting.
• Connectivity rollout included “43 shadow areas” identified for upgraded service.
• The original BharatNet project was approved on 25 October 2011 for all Gram Panchayats (~2.64 lakh).
• The amended BharatNet programme has a design cost of approximately ₹1,39,579 crore (for high‑speed broadband connectivity to all inhabited villages) under the Amended BharatNet programme.
• Key components of the amended scheme: OFC ring topology block‑to‑GP, IP‑MPLS network, last‑mile connectivity, central monitoring (CNOC), ten‑year O&M.