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Digital Bharat Nidhi signs BharatNet expansion agreement with Tamil Nadu
വാർത്തയിൽ എന്തുകൊണ്ട്?
Which fund replaced the USOF? The Digital Bharat Nidhi and BharatNet link GS2 and GS3 both test
DBN and Tamil Nadu sign a BharatNet expansion pact.
Why it matters: general awareness
What you need to know
2 മിനിറ്റ്
Digital Bharat Nidhi, the Tamil Nadu government and Tamil Nadu FibreNet Corporation (TANFINET) signed an agreement on 30 October 2026 at Sanchar Bhawan, New Delhi, to expand BharatNet connectivity in the State.
Digital Bharat Nidhi is the telecom fund created under the Telecommunications Act, 2023 in place of the Universal Service Obligation Fund.
ഉറവിടങ്ങൾ: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
പ്രധാന വസ്തുതകൾ
Remember these
- Agreement signed on 30 October 2026 at Sanchar Bhawan, New Delhi, between Digital Bharat Nidhi, the Tamil Nadu government and TANFINET
- Purpose: expand BharatNet connectivity in Tamil Nadu
- Digital Bharat Nidhi is the telecom fund created under the Telecommunications Act, 2023
- It replaces the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)
- TANFINET is the Tamil Nadu FibreNet Corporation
പ്രിലിംസ് · മെയിൻസ്
How the exam will ask it
പ്രിലിംസ്
- Digital Bharat Nidhi is established under the Telecommunications Act, 2023 in place of the Universal Service Obligation Fund.
- The Telecommunications Act, 2023 replaced the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 as the governing law for the sector.
- BharatNet is the national programme to extend optical fibre broadband connectivity to villages, with State agencies such as TANFINET partnering.
മെയിൻസ്
GS2/GS3: Digital connectivity is a public-goods and cooperative federalism issue. The shift from USOF to Digital Bharat Nidhi under the Telecommunications Act, 2023 and the tripartite pact with a State agency show the Centre funding last-mile infrastructure while States execute. The way forward lies in timely rollout, sustainable operation of networks and use of connectivity for e-governance, education and health to narrow the digital divide.
Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
Digital Bharat Nidhi recently signed a BharatNet expansion agreement with Tamil Nadu. Consider the following statements:
- Digital Bharat Nidhi replaced the Universal Service Obligation Fund.
- Digital Bharat Nidhi was created under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
ഉത്തരം കാണിക്കൂ
ഉത്തരം: A — Correct: 1 only — Digital Bharat Nidhi replaced the USOF, while statement 2 is incorrect as it comes from a newer law. • 2 only — wrong: Statement 1 is correct, so '2 only' cannot hold. • Both 1 and 2 — wrong: Statement 2 is false, since the 1885 Act was replaced by the Telecommunications Act, 2023. • Neither 1 nor 2 — wrong: Statement 1 is correct, so 'neither' is wrong.
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