Amended BharatNet Program begins in Gujarat under State-led model
On 24 June 2025 at Gandhinagar, Gujarat, Digital Bharat Nidhi signed a quadripartite agreement with the Gujarat government, BSNL and Gujarat Fibre Grid Network Limited under the Amended BharatNet Program.
Summary
The Government of India, through Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), signed a quadripartite agreement with the Government of Gujarat, BSNL and Gujarat Fibre Grid Network Limited (GFGNL) at Gandhinagar on 24 June 2025 under the Amended BharatNet Program (ABP). The agreement hands over all BharatNet works in Gujarat to GFGNL. Gujarat had received in-principle approval of ₹5,631 crore for capital expenditure and 10 years of operations and maintenance, and is the first of eight states taking up BharatNet under the State-led model. The rollout covers all 14,654 Gram Panchayats. The Union Cabinet approved ABP (static) on 4 August 2023, funded through DBN, with BSNL as the Project Management Agency.
Key facts
- Agreement
- DBN, Government of Gujarat, BSNL, GFGNL
- Venue
- Gandhinagar
- Approval for Gujarat
- ₹5,631 crore (capex + 10 years O&M)
- Distinction
- First of eight states under State-led model
- Coverage
- All 14,654 Gram Panchayats in Gujarat
- ABP approved (static)
- 4 August 2023, funded by Digital Bharat Nidhi
- Project Management Agency (static)
- BSNL
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Under the Amended BharatNet Program agreement signed on 24 June 2025, BharatNet works in Gujarat were handed over to which entity?
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Correct answer: A — Gujarat Fibre Grid Network Limited (GFGNL)
PIB: the agreement enables handing over of all BharatNet works, activities and responsibilities in Gujarat to Gujarat Fibre Grid Network Limited (GFGNL).
Gujarat is the first among how many states undertaking BharatNet under the State-led model?
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Correct answer: C — Eight
PIB: Gujarat holds the distinction of being the first among Eight states undertaking BharatNet under the State-led model.
Consider the following statements about the Amended BharatNet Program (ABP): 1. The Union Cabinet approved ABP on 4 August 2023. 2. ABP is funded through the Digital Bharat Nidhi. 3. Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) has been appointed as its Project Management Agency. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB: the Union Cabinet approved ABP on 4 August 2023, to be funded through the Digital Bharat Nidhi; BSNL (not BBNL) has been appointed as the Project Management Agency. So 1 and 2 only.