Punjab becomes first state to implement revised Bharat Net Scheme, connecting villages with broadband, boosting e-governance, e-health, and digital services.

Punjab is now the first state in the nation to adopt the revised Bharat Net Scheme across the whole state, which is an additional feather in the cap for maximizing the use of communication technologies. The prize appropriately highlights the technological advancements made by the Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann.

In Chandigarh, CGM Ajay Kumar Kararha of BSNL Punjab Circle presented the award to Chief Secretary, Punjab, KAP Sinha.

Internet and broadband services have been made available in all 43 of Punjab State’s shadow regions, with just one hamlet left, according to KAP Sinha, who described the award as evidence of the state’s constantly growing technological base. Every village would be included in the program’s scope by the end of November.

According to the Chief Secretary, the new effort will be a huge step forward in boosting the Punjab Government’s good governance strategy and bring about a broadband revolution in rural areas. The villages would now easily access a range of government services as they become a part of a single digital family.

An important goal of the Bharat Net Scheme is to connect all of the nation’s Gram Panchayats to the internet, in addition to homes and businesses. In rural areas, it also anticipates e-health and e-governance services.

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The CGM of BSNL notified the Chief Secretary of Punjab that BSNL Punjab is the first state in India to have a working S-NOC that can be watched live from anywhere in the nation as part of the Amended Bharat Net Project. Implementation of the Amended Bharat Net Project has begun in Punjab State. This project began in the Amritsar neighborhood of Harsha Chinna. Currently, there are 1000 km of HDD and about 400 km of OFC laid in 22 blocks of Punjab thanks to the eager assistance and coordination of numerous State Government Agencies and district level personnel. In June 2025, a coordination meeting led by the Chief Secretary of Punjab and the Secretary of Telecom for the Government of India made this possible.

Additionally, it was asked that the Chief Secretary take the BSNL into consideration when making nominations for different State Government projects under the State Disaster Management program.

The CGM of BSNL also informed the Chief Secretary that BSNL has established wi-fi access in Ramkalwan, one of the most isolated border villages in Punjab’s Pathankot District, close to the Indo-Pak Border, through the Vidya Mitram program. To get the village wi-fi connected, the Sarpanch approached BSNL. Along with this, CGMT asked the Punjab Chief Secretary to urge Panchayats around Punjab to provide similar assistance.