The Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) signed an agreement on 18 August 2026 with the Chhattisgarh government, Chhattisgarh State BharatNet Infrastructure Limited (CSBIL), Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), and Chhattisgarh Infotech Promotion Society (CHiPS) for implementing the Amended BharatNet Program in Chhattisgarh. The Union government has approved financial support of Rs 3,942 crore for the rollout of the program across the state. The agreement, signed at Sanchar Bhawan in New Delhi, marks a major step toward bringing high-speed broadband connectivity to over 11,000 Gram Panchayats and more than 8,000 villages in Chhattisgarh.
What Is the Amended BharatNet Program?
The Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) is the third and most ambitious phase of India’s mission to bridge the urban-rural digital divide. The Union Cabinet approved it on 4 August 2023 with a massive outlay of Rs 1,39,579 crore, funded through the Digital Bharat Nidhi. The program aims to provide high-speed optical fibre connectivity to approximately 2.64 lakh Gram Panchayats across the country using a resilient ring topology and also extend broadband to around 3.8 lakh non-GP villages on a demand-driven basis.
Unlike the earlier phases, the ABP shifts from pure infrastructure creation to a service-oriented and professionally managed model. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has been designated as the Project Management Agency (PMA). Professional agencies are selected through transparent bidding for network deployment and long-term operations under a Design, Build, Operate and Maintain (DBOM) model with contracts spanning 10 years, including three years of operations and maintenance.
The program introduces several technical upgrades over its predecessors. It replaces the earlier linear topologies with an Internet Protocol Multi-Protocol Label Switching (IP-MPLS) ring-based architecture. This enhances network redundancy, availability, and fast fault restoration. The design includes routers with 10 Gbps downward links at Blocks and 1 Gbps downward links at Gram Panchayats, along with centralized and state Network Operation Centres (NOCs) for real-time monitoring.
A key utilization initiative under the ABP is the target to provide 1.5 crore rural home fibre connections over five years through the BharatNet Udyami Model, where village-level entrepreneurs handle last-mile connectivity. Each FTTH subscriber is guaranteed a minimum 25 Mbps download speed. The program is being implemented nationwide through 16 packages, with BSNL having completed the selection and agreement process for Project Implementation Agencies (PIAs).
The Chhattisgarh Agreement
On 18 August 2026, a multi-party agreement was signed at Sanchar Bhawan, New Delhi, between six entities for implementing the ABP in Chhattisgarh under the State-led model. The parties to the agreement include Digital Bharat Nidhi (DoT), the Government of Chhattisgarh, Chhattisgarh State BharatNet Infrastructure Limited (CSBIL), BSNL, and Chhattisgarh Infotech Promotion Society (CHiPS).
Under the State-led implementation model, the project in Chhattisgarh will be executed through CSBIL, a special purpose vehicle formed by the state government. This model allows state-level agencies to take ownership of network construction, upgradation, and maintenance in coordination with BSNL as the national project management agency.
The government of India has approved financial support of Rs 3,942 crore for the program in Chhattisgarh. This funding will cover capital expenditure for network creation and upgradation, as well as operations and maintenance costs over the contract period.
Scope and Scale in Chhattisgarh
The ABP in Chhattisgarh has a total scope of 11,682 Gram Panchayats. This includes three categories of coverage. First, upgradation of 4,048 Phase-I Gram Panchayats from linear to ring topology to improve network resilience and eliminate single points of failure. Second, coverage of 5,964 Phase-II Gram Panchayats that were part of the earlier expansion but require modernization. Third, inclusion of 1,670 newly created Gram Panchayats that did not exist when the earlier phases were planned.
In addition to the Gram Panchayat coverage, 8,328 villages will be provided broadband connectivity on a demand basis. This is a critical component of the program, as it extends the reach of digital infrastructure beyond the Gram Panchayat headquarters to individual villages where demand exists.
The initiative is expected to facilitate more than three lakh rural home fibre connections in Chhattisgarh with government financial support. These connections will enable high-speed internet access for households, government institutions, and small businesses in rural areas.
The expanded broadband infrastructure is expected to strengthen access to digital services including e-Governance, online education, telemedicine, digital payments, and other citizen-centric services across rural and remote areas of the state. Chhattisgarh, which has a significant rural population spread across difficult terrain including the Bastar division, stands to benefit enormously from this infrastructure push.
Key Organisations Involved
The agreement involves five key organisations, each playing a distinct role in the program’s execution.
Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) is the funding agency. It was established under the Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Act, 2003 with effect from 1 April 2002. Under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, the erstwhile Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) was renamed as Digital Bharat Nidhi. DBN is an attached office of the Department of Telecommunications under the Ministry of Communications. It funds universal service through promoting access and delivery of telecommunication services in underserved rural, remote, and urban areas. The DBN is financed by a 5% Universal Service Levy charged on the Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) of all telecom operators.
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) serves as the Project Management Agency (PMA) for the Amended BharatNet Program nationwide. BSNL is a central public sector undertaking under the Department of Telecommunications. It is responsible for selecting Project Implementation Agencies, overseeing network deployment, and ensuring service quality through centralized monitoring.
Chhattisgarh State BharatNet Infrastructure Limited (CSBIL) is the state-level special purpose vehicle that will execute the project in Chhattisgarh. Under the State-led model, CSBIL takes responsibility for network construction, upgradation, and long-term operations and maintenance within the state.
Chhattisgarh Infotech Promotion Society (CHiPS) is the state government’s nodal agency for information technology promotion and digital governance initiatives. CHiPS has been instrumental in driving Chhattisgarh’s digital transformation, including projects like the Seva Setu platform, Mineral Online 2.0, and various e-Governance portals. Its involvement ensures coordination between the BharatNet infrastructure and the state’s broader digital service delivery ecosystem.
The Government of Chhattisgarh, through its Department of Electronics and Information Technology, provides the policy framework and administrative support for implementation.
BharatNet: From Phase I to Phase III
Understanding the Amended BharatNet Program requires looking at how the project has evolved over more than a decade.
BharatNet was originally approved by the Union Cabinet on 25 October 2011 as the National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN). The project was later renamed BharatNet in 2015. It is one of the largest rural telecom projects in the world, aimed at providing broadband connectivity to every Gram Panchayat in the country. The project was initially executed by a special purpose vehicle, Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL), incorporated on 25 February 2012. BBNL has since been merged with BSNL.
Phase I, completed in December 2017, connected over 1 lakh Gram Panchayats using existing optical fibre infrastructure of central public sector undertakings like BSNL, RailTel, and PowerGrid Corporation. The government laid incremental fibre to bridge the gap up to the Gram Panchayats.
Phase II, approved on 19 July 2017, expanded coverage to connect 1.5 lakh more Gram Panchayats using an optimal mix of optical fibre, radio, and satellite technologies. This phase introduced multiple implementation models: the State-led model (covering eight states including Chhattisgarh), the CPSU-led model, and the Private-led model. Under the State-led model, Chhattisgarh was among the early states to take up BharatNet implementation.
Phase III, or the Amended BharatNet Program, approved on 4 August 2023, represents a fundamental shift. It moves from coverage to consumption, from infrastructure creation to service delivery, and from linear to ring topology. The total outlay of Rs 1,39,579 crore makes it the most funded phase. As of early 2026, over 2.15 lakh Gram Panchayats have been connected under BharatNet, with more than 42 lakh route kilometres of optical fibre deployed nationwide. Over 12 lakh FTTH connections have been commissioned, and more than 1 lakh Wi-Fi hotspots have been installed.
The Chhattisgarh agreement under the ABP builds on this legacy. The state had already been implementing BharatNet under the Phase-II State-led model. The new agreement upgrades and expands that infrastructure to future-ready ring topology and extends coverage to thousands of additional villages.
The Significance for Chhattisgarh and Rural India
The Chhattisgarh agreement under the ABP carries significance on multiple levels.
For Chhattisgarh specifically, the program addresses a critical infrastructure gap. The state has a large rural population, with many Gram Panchayats in difficult terrain, including the forested and hilly regions of the Bastar division. Reliable broadband connectivity can transform service delivery in these areas. Schools can access online educational resources, health centres can enable telemedicine consultations, and panchayat offices can deliver e-Governance services in real time.
The ring topology upgrade is particularly important. The earlier linear topology meant that a single point of failure could disconnect an entire stretch of Gram Panchayats. Ring topology creates a circular data path, so if one link fails, data can travel the other way around the ring. This significantly improves network uptime and reliability, which is crucial for services like telemedicine and digital payments that require consistent connectivity.
Chhattisgarh’s digital governance ecosystem, driven by CHiPS, is already seeing results. The Seva Setu platform has become the state’s largest digital services delivery mechanism. The Mineral Online 2.0 system facilitated revenue generation of over Rs 30,000 crore between January 2024 and June 2026. The BharatNet infrastructure will serve as the backbone for expanding these digital services to the last mile.
At the national level, the Chhattisgarh agreement is part of a broader push. Similar agreements have been signed with other states under the State-led model. Gujarat became the first state to formalize the multi-party agreement in June 2025, covering all 14,654 Gram Panchayats with a target of 98% service uptime. Andhra Pradesh signed its agreement in May 2026 for 13,426 Gram Panchayats with Rs 2,432 crore financial support. Odisha, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Jharkhand are also at various stages of forming special purpose vehicles and finalizing agreements.
The program also aligns with India’s broader digital ambitions. The National Broadband Mission 2.0, launched on 1 April 2025, has set targets for 2030 including optical fibre connectivity with 95% uptime in 2.7 lakh villages, broadband access to 90% of anchor institutions, and average fixed broadband speeds of 100 Mbps. The ABP is a key enabler for achieving these targets.
Key Takeaways
- The Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) was approved by the Union Cabinet on 4 August 2023 with an outlay of Rs 1,39,579 crore to provide broadband connectivity to 2.64 lakh Gram Panchayats and 3.8 lakh non-GP villages.
- Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), established under the Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Act, 2003, replaced the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) under the Telecommunications Act, 2023 and funds rural telecom projects through a 5% Universal Service Levy on telecom operators.
- The Chhattisgarh agreement covers 11,682 Gram Panchayats and 8,328 villages with a financial support of Rs 3,942 crore approved by the Union government.
- The program upgrades existing network from linear to ring topology using IP-MPLS architecture, significantly improving network resilience and fault restoration.
- BSNL serves as the Project Management Agency (PMA) nationwide, while CSBIL is the state-level special purpose vehicle for execution in Chhattisgarh.
- As of early 2026, over 2.15 lakh Gram Panchayats have been connected under BharatNet with more than 42 lakh route kilometres of optical fibre deployed across India.
