What happened
The Government of India approved the Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) on 04.08.2023 for upgrading all Gram Panchayats (GPs) in ring topology for high-speed internet services. The government reports that BharatNet Phase-I and Phase-II connected 2,14,912 GPs out of a plan to connect 2,65,014 GPs. As of June 2026, the government reports 13,494 GPs upgraded under ABP.
Background and earlier position
BharatNet has been implemented in phases to extend broadband connectivity to Gram Panchayat institutions. ABP functions as an additional programme layer that focuses on upgrading GPs for high-speed internet services using ring topology after earlier connectivity work under BharatNet Phase-I and Phase-II.
What changed now
The ABP approval created a stated upgrade pathway for Gram Panchayats through ring topology to enable high-speed internet services. In parallel, the government reports a coverage-support approach using 4G for villages not covered by Telecom Service Providers, and it reports tower deployments “on air” across remote and border areas.
Related current affairs
- DoT and C-DOT sign agreement to set up End-to-End Optical Network Testbed
- DDWS Organises National Workshop on Multi-Stakeholder Consultation for Capacity Building under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0
- Agreement signed for implementation of Amended BharatNet Program in Chhattisgarh under State-led model
- Broadband connectivity for rural government secondary schools under BharatNet
- Government steps to strengthen telecom and digital communication infrastructure
- Common Services Centres (CSCs) e-Governance Services project for rural e-services up to Gram Panchayat level