PIB Delhi – One of the important objectives of Digital India programme is to transform the lives of Indian citizens and improve governance and democracy by ensuring digital services, digital access, bridging the digital divide, digital inclusion and digital empowerment. Towards this, various digital initiatives for strengthening the digital infrastructure providing government services through platforms and creation of India Stack have been taken by the Government of India. Some of the key platforms along with their web links are as under:
- Aadhaar platform: https://uidai.gov.in/
- Unified Payments Interface (UPI): https://www.bhimupi.org.in/
- Unified Mobile Application for New-Age Governance (UMANG): https://web.umang.gov.in/landing/
- (iv) Digital seva platform: https://digitalseva.csc.gov.in/
- DigiLocker: https://www.digilocker.gov.in/
- (vi) MyScheme: https://www.myscheme.gov.in/
As per data provided by Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) and field units of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), as of December 2020, out of 5,97,618 inhabited villages in the country as per Census 2011, an estimated 25,067 villages did not have mobile connectivity. Out of these 25,067 uncovered villages, around 11,000 villages have since been included in Universal Service Obligation Fund schemes. Uncovered villages are covered by the Government and TSPs in a phased manner. For optical fibre connectivity, DoT is implementing BharatNet project in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to all inhabited villages. BharatNet is providing broadband/Optical Fibre Connectivity (OFC) to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country, including in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand. Details of fibre extended in the villages of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, as on 28.11.2022, are as under:
| S. No. | State | Total Planned GPs | OFC laid (km) | Service-ready GPs on OFC | Service-ready GPs on satellite | Total Service-ready GPs (OFC + satellite) |
| 1 | Bihar | 8,404 | 27,413 | 8,300 | 16 | 8,316 |
| 2 | Jharkhand | 4,399 | 16,745 | 4,333 | 2 | 4,335 |
| 3 | Uttar Pradesh | 59,365 | 1,03,950 | 39,785 | 33 | 39,818 |
Source: DoT
This information was given by the Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
