India has established new regulations for the Digital Bharat Nidhi fund as part of the Telecommunications Act. The first set of regulations, the Telecommunications (Administration of Digital Bharat Nidhi) Rules, 2024, has been introduced under the Telecommunications Act, 2023.

The newly issued rules aim to expand the range of telecommunications services in underserved regions and communities. The Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) replaces the previous Universal Service Obligation Fund. This was established under the Indian Telegraph Act of 1885, and it is now positioned to address India’s changing technological landscape.

This fund is intended to support projects and initiatives to enhance telecommunication services in remote areas and for disadvantaged groups, including women, persons with disabilities, and economically vulnerable segments of society.

In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia commended the new regulations to demonstrate the government’s commitment to providing fair access to telecom services. “These regulations reflect our determination to strengthen India’s mission of becoming Viksit Bharat @ 2047,” Scindia stated.

The new regulations outline the duties and responsibilities of the DBN administrator, who will oversee the fund’s implementation. Projects eligible for funding under the DBN must meet specific criteria, such as enhancing telecommunication services, improving access to next-generation technologies, and promoting innovation and research within the telecom sector.

The DBN’s primary goals include promoting indigenous technology development, fostering telecom start-ups, and encouraging sustainable and green technologies. The regulations also emphasise the importance of ensuring that telecommunication networks supported by the fund are accessible on an open and non-discriminatory basis.

The introduction of the DBN is a component of the broader Telecommunications Act, 2023, cleared by the Parliament in December last year and came into effect in June 2024. The Act, guided by the principles of inclusion, security, growth, and responsiveness, aims to realise the vision of a developed India by 2047.

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