BharatNet rollout gaps flagged by Indian Parliamentary panel

A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology has identified significant execution gaps in BharatNet, the Indian government's flagship rural broadband program. In its 32nd Report on Digital Bharat Nidhi, the committee noted that while substantial infrastructure has been developed, the number of operational Gram Panchayats (GPs) falls short of the goal for universal coverage.

As of February 28, 2026, Points of Presence (PoPs) were operational in 78,899 Gram Panchayats out of approximately 2.64 lakh nationwide. The committee observed that the pace of implementation is uneven across different states and models, suggesting deficiencies in planning, coordination, and execution.

The panel has called for a comprehensive, state-wise, and model-wise performance audit to identify implementation bottlenecks. Additionally, the committee requested a revised, time-bound roadmap with clear accountability to ensure connectivity reaches all Gram Panchayats.

Data from the Department of Telecommunications indicates that 7.19 lakh kilometers of optical fiber cable have been laid, with Rs 40,635 crore disbursed from the Digital Bharat Nidhi for Phase-I and Phase-II of the project. As of February 28, 2026, there were 948,237 active Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) connections in rural areas under the program.