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Digital Bharat Nidhi funds rural telecom connectivity
बातमीत का?
Renamed but still funding BharatNet: the Digital Bharat Nidhi fact every Prelims aspirant must know
The Universal Service Obligation Fund was renamed the Digital Bharat Nidhi under the Telecommunications Act, 2023.
Why it matters: factual, Prelims-type
What you need to know
2 मिनिटे
The Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), which finances telecom connectivity in underserved and rural areas, has been renamed the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) under the Telecommunications Act, 2023.
The fund supports programmes such as BharatNet, which aims to extend broadband connectivity to rural and remote areas through optical fibre networks.
The renaming was part of a broader modernisation of India's telecom legal framework replacing colonial-era laws.
स्रोत: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
महत्त्वाची तथ्ये
Remember these
- USOF renamed Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) under Telecommunications Act, 2023
- DBN funds telecom connectivity in underserved and rural areas
- Supports BharatNet, extending broadband via optical fibre to rural areas
- Telecommunications Act, 2023 replaced colonial-era telecom laws
पूर्व · मुख्य
How the exam will ask it
पूर्व
- The Universal Service Obligation Fund has been renamed the Digital Bharat Nidhi under the Telecommunications Act, 2023.
- The Digital Bharat Nidhi finances telecom connectivity in underserved and rural areas.
- BharatNet, supported by this fund, extends broadband connectivity through optical fibre networks.
- The renaming was part of modernising India's telecom legal framework by replacing colonial-era laws.
मुख्य
GS Paper III (infrastructure/telecom and digital connectivity): rural-urban digital divide has been addressed by continuing the USOF's role, now as Digital Bharat Nidhi, to fund BharatNet's optical fibre rollout. The way forward lies in timely fund utilisation and monitoring to ensure last-mile broadband access actually reaches rural households.
Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
The Digital Bharat Nidhi, which funds rural telecom-connectivity programmes like BharatNet, was created by renaming which existing fund under the Telecommunications Act, 2023?
- Universal Service Obligation Fund
- Consolidated Fund of India
- Compensatory Afforestation Fund
- National Investment Fund
उत्तर पहा
उत्तर: A — Correct: Universal Service Obligation Fund - renamed the Digital Bharat Nidhi under the Telecommunications Act, 2023. • Consolidated Fund of India - wrong: the government's general account, unrelated. • Compensatory Afforestation Fund - wrong: funds afforestation, unrelated to telecom. • National Investment Fund - wrong: holds disinvestment proceeds, unrelated to telecom.
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