Status: The Modi government is implementing the BharatNet project to provide broadband connectivity in all villages by linking 2.5 lakh gram panchayats to an optical fibre network. By December 2022, the government could connect about 1.8 lakh gram panchayats with an optical fibre network against the target of connecting all 2.5 lakh gram panchayats. Even by January 2024, 2.1 lakh Gram Panchayats were connected with broadband. The government is also setting up the Common Services Centres (CSCs) in all panchayats to provide rural people access to several government schemes including telemedicine, tele-education and agriculture services. 4.4 lakh such centres are presently functional at gram panchayat/village level. i ii iii iv