Department of Telecommunication announced that the first rules of The Telecom Act 2023, ‘Digital Bharat Nidhi’ are now in effect

The Department of Telecommunication (DoT), India recently announced that the first rules of The Telecom Act 2023, ‘Digital Bharat Nidhi’ is now in effect. The department took to the social media platform X and announced the same through an update.

The first rules of The Telecom Act 2023, ‘Digital Bharat Nidhi’ is now in effect.

Towards #Aatmanirbhar telecom ecosystem. pic.twitter.com/LjCSJi8skp

— DoT India (@DoT_India) August 31, 2024

The Minister of Communications, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia reposted the post by the Department of Telecommunication and expressed that the new measure reflects their commitment to ensure equal access to telecom services. He also stated that with this, the nation is marching towards building a digitally connected Bharat and an #Atmanirbhar telecom sector.

Marching towards building a digitally connected Bharat and an #Atmanirbhar telecom sector.@DoT_India is proud to share that the first rules of The Telecom Act 2023, ‘Digital Bharat Nidhi’ are now in effect. This reflects our commitment to ensure equal access to telecom services… https://t.co/KXsEklrlrR

— Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (@JM_Scindia) September 1, 2024

‘Digital Bharat Nidhi’ was formerly known as the Universal Service Obligation Fund. The motive of the newly announced rules is to enhance telecommunication services in remote and underserved areas. With this, women, persons with disabilities, and economically disadvantaged communities will also be benefited.

The role of Digital Bharat Nidhi is to fund projects that aim to improve telecom services, which include the likes of mobile and broadband connectivity while boosting the telecom sector. The Act and its provisions are a tool to take forward India towards the goal of becoming Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Now, let’s have a look at some of the salient aspects that the Digital Bharat Nidhi focuses on:

• To fund projects that will provide telecommunication services and necessary equipment, and thus enhance connectivity.
• It also aims to support innovation, research, and the development of indigenous technologies.
• It aims to encourage startups in the telecom sector and setting standards for the same.
• Furthermore, the act also promotes green technologies and sustainable practices.
• Another goal of the act is to create a bridge between academia, research institutions, and startups, resulting in an overall growth of the industry.

The act makes it mandatory that any recipient offers telecommunication services on an open and non-discriminatory basis.

The Telecommunications Act, 2023 was earlier passed by the Parliament in December 2024. The presidential assent was passed on December 24, 2023, and it was published in the official Gazette on the same day. The act includes provisions for the Digital Bharat Nidhi in Sections 24-26 of Chapter V.