Q1. What is Bharat Net Project, describe its objectives, steps, progress and challenges.
- Bharat Net aims to provide 100 Mbps broadband to 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats.
- Key objective: bridge digital divide and enable e-governance in rural India.
- Implementation primarily uses Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) in phased approach.
- Project connected over 1.9 lakh Gram Panchayats to OFC backbone.
Answer: The Bharat Net Project, formerly known as the National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN), is a flagship initiative of the Government of India. Its primary aim, as discussed in Unit 3 of BPR-005, is to provide affordable, high-speed broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) across the country. This ambitious project seeks to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural India, facilitating digital empowerment. This initiative, conceived under the Digital India program, envisions a digit...