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Punjab Leads India in New BharatNet Rollout
What happened
- Statewide rollout: On 11–12 November 2025, Punjab has become the first state in India to put the new version of the BharatNet scheme into action in the whole state. This means every part of Punjab will soon get faster internet through this project.
- Award presentation: Punjab’s Chief Secretary, A.P. Sinha, was given an award by BSNL Chief General Manager Ajay Kumar Kararha in Chandigarh to honour the state’s success in completing this big project.
- Connectivity milestone: Internet and broadband services have already started in 43 shadow areas (villages with weak or no signal). Now, only one village is left, and the government plans to connect it before the end of November 2025.
- Infrastructure laid: More than 1,000 km of underground pipes and around 400 km of fibre cables have been installed in 22 blocks across Punjab to carry high-speed internet.
- Monitoring system: The state has set up a State Network Operations Centre (S-NOC) that keeps an eye on the whole network in real time, helping fix any internet problems faster.
Why the amended BharatNet matters
- Rural broadband goal: The BharatNet scheme aims to give high-speed internet to all villages (around 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats) so that people can use government, education and health services online.
- New version approach: The updated plan now uses a mix of cables, radio and satellite connections to reach even remote areas where laying cables is hard.
- Faster repair system: The new monitoring setup in Punjab helps find and fix internet faults quickly, so people face fewer network breaks.
- Model for others: Punjab’s success will act as an example for other states to speed up their own BharatNet work.
What the state and BSNL say
- Team effort: Both the Punjab government and BSNL said that this success came because state officers, district teams and the central telecom department worked together closely.
- First rollout place: The new BharatNet project started in Harsha Chinna block of Amritsar, where the first phase of the rollout took place.
- Award event: On 11 November 2025, an event was held in Chandigarh, where BSNL officials gave an award to the Chief Secretary for leading the project successfully.
- Remote villages covered: Even border areas like Ramkalwan village, near the India-Pakistan border, have been given Wi-Fi internet under this scheme, showing that no part of the state is being left behind.
Immediate benefits expected
- Internet in every village: The plan is to connect all remaining villages by November 2025, so that everyone in Punjab can use fast internet.
- Support for farmers: With better internet, farmers can check market prices, sell crops online, and learn about new farming tools more easily.
- Better learning and health: Students can attend online classes, and patients in villages can consult doctors through video calls using tele-medicine.
- Help for women: Women in rural areas can use online banking, learn new skills and start small digital businesses from their homes.
Limits, next steps and what to watch
- Other states behind: Punjab is first, but many other states are still building their BharatNet networks. The goal is to reach about 5 lakh village councils across India.
- Service yet to start everywhere: The cables have been laid, but internet service at homes and schools will start only after private and local internet providers connect their systems.
- Last village pending: Only one village is left to get full connection, and officials said it will be done before the end of this month.
- More internet providers needed: To reach every house, local ISPs and Wi-Fi operators will have to join in and provide last-mile connections.
- Quality check: The real success will depend on how fast, stable and affordable the internet is once people start using it.
Important Questions
- On which dates did Punjab officially implement the amended BharatNet scheme statewide?
- What is the main aim of the BharatNet scheme launched to connect rural India?
- Who received the award from BSNL Chief General Manager Ajay Kumar Kararha in Chandigarh?
- How many kilometres of underground pipes and fibre cables were installed across Punjab under the BharatNet scheme?
- In what ways will the BharatNet scheme improve internet access and digital services in rural Punjab?
Conclusion
On 11–12 November 2025, Punjab created history by becoming the first state in India to fully carry out the amended BharatNet scheme. This achievement shows how strong teamwork between the state government, BSNL and the central telecom department can bring high-speed internet to villages. The next challenge is to make sure every home, school and health centre gets reliable and useful internet service that truly helps people in their daily lives.
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