The central government will extend broadband connectivity to all government-run secondary schools and primary healthcare centres (PHCs) in rural areas through the BharatNet initiative, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced while presenting the Union Budget for 2025-26.
Watch: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presents the NDA government's second full #UnionBudget2025 of its third term, and her eighth consecutive one
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She says, "Broadband connectivity will be provided to all government secondary schools and primary health centers in… pic.twitter.com/odNdAU8WPg
“Broadband connectivity will be provided to all government secondary schools and PHCs in rural areas under the BharatNet project,” Sitharaman stated in Parliament. This marks the eighth consecutive budget presented by the Narendra Modi-led government.
BharatNet, approved by the Union Cabinet on October 25, 2011, is an ambitious initiative aimed at providing high-speed and affordable internet access to every gram panchayat (village block) in the country. Under the Ministry of Communications, the project seeks to bridge the digital divide and foster inclusive growth in rural India.
As of January 13, 2025, the BharatNet project has connected 2,14,323 gram panchayats, with 6,92,676 km of optical fiber cable (OFC) laid. Additionally, 12,21,014 Fibre-To-The-Home (FTTH) connections have been commissioned, and 1,04,574 Wi-Fi hotspots installed to ensure last-mile connectivity.
भारतनेट – देश के कोने कोने तक इंटरनेट का हाईवे। pic.twitter.com/7qRWjbgly5
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Further, the government has announced the establishment of a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for artificial intelligence (AI) in the education sector with an outlay of ₹500 crore. “I had announced three CoEs in AI for agriculture, health, and sustainable cities in 2023. Now, a CoE in AI for education will be set up with a total outlay of ₹500 crore,” Sitharaman said.
Dhriti Prasanna Mahanta, Vice-President of TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship, highlighted the significance of this initiative in skilling India’s youth in AI technologies and creating a vast talent pool across industries. “To maximize its impact, the Centre must integrate multidisciplinary education models, ensuring AI learning extends beyond technical domains to business, healthcare, manufacturing, and other sectors,” Mahanta said.
He further emphasized the need for modular AI courses, blending virtual classrooms with on-the-job training (OJT) to enhance accessibility and industry relevance. “A robust framework for collaboration between academia, industry, and young learners is essential to drive innovation, enhance employability, and build a future-ready workforce,” Mahanta added.
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