Why In News?
The Digital Village Project (also known as DigiGaon) is currently in the news because the government recently provided an update on March 10, 2026, regarding the expansion of last-mile digital connectivity through the BharatNet project, which is the backbone for creating digital villages.
About
- Infrastructure Milestone: As of February 2026, approximately 2,17,805 Gram Panchayats (GPs) have been made "service ready" under BharatNet, including over 10,886 in Tamil Nadu.
- Amended BharatNet Program (ABP): The government is actively upgrading existing networks to ensure balance GPs and remaining non-GP villages receive connectivity on demand.
- 4G Saturation Project: Till February 2026, a total of 24,263 mobile towers have been commissioned to provide 4G services in previously uncovered remote and rural areas.
- New Pilot Launches: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) recently launched the Digital India Common Service Center (DICSC) project in districts like Pilibhit and Gorakhpur to establish model centers in nearly all gram panchayats.
Key Features
- Concept: A "Digital Village" is a connected village where citizens can access various e-services (banking, health, education, etc.) through Common Service Centres (CSCs).
- Core Services Provided:
- Financial Inclusion: Banking, insurance, and pension services.
- Healthcare: Access to telemedicine (eSanjeevani) and health check-ups.
- Education: Virtual classrooms, digital literacy (PMGDISHA), and access to platforms like DIKSHA.
- Livelihood Units: Small manufacturing units like LED bulb assembly and sanitary napkin units managed by local workers.
- Funding & Support:
- Projects are funded through the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) (formerly the Universal Service Obligation Fund).
- The government previously set a target of one lakh villages, with an initial pilot phase covering 700 villages across the country.
- Key Enablers:
- CSC SPV: The implementing agency under MeitY that manages the network of over 6.5 lakh Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs).
- PM-WANI: Promotes affordable public Wi-Fi hotspots; as of February 2026, over 4 lakh hotspots have been deployed.
- Strategic Impact: The project aims to empower rural residents, reduce the digital divide, and foster local economic growth by integrating villages into the broader digital economy.
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