For Prelims: Right to Information Act, 2005, Department of Telecommunications (DoT), 4G (Fourth Generation) Connectivity, Villages without 4G (2022), Villages without 4G (2026), Reduction, Nodal Ministry, Key implementing agency
For Mains: Digital divide, Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), BSNL 4G saturation, Scheduled Tribe connectivity
Source:
The Hindu
5 facts for one-day exams
SSC, railway, police and teaching exams ask direct questions like these.
- Villages without 4G fell from 45,180 in 2022 to 11,372 in 2026.
- The data was obtained under the Right to Information Act, 2005.
- Odisha has the most unconnected villages (1,789).
- Arunachal Pradesh has the second most (1,518).
- BSNL's 4G saturation project is a key driver of the reduction.
Why in the news?
India's rural digital divide is narrowing: villages without 4G connectivity dropped from 45,180 (2022) to 11,372 (2026). The decline is driven by BSNL's 4G saturation project and private operator efforts. Odisha and Arunachal Pradesh still have the most unconnected villages, and Scheduled Tribe-dominated villages remain disproportionately affected.
Summary
- Villages without 4G connectivity in India fell from 45,180 in 2022 to 11,372 in 2026, a reduction of about three-fourths.
- The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) provided the data under the Right to Information Act, 2005.
- BSNL's 4G saturation project covered more villages than its initial target of 24,680, aided by intra-circle agreements with Vodafone Idea Ltd (Vi) in 12-13 circles.
- Odisha (1,789 villages) and Arunachal Pradesh (1,518 villages) have the highest number of unconnected villages.
Highlights
Sharp Decline in Digital Divide
Villages without 4G fell from 45,180 to 11,372 in four years, driven by BSNL's saturation project.
ST Villages Disproportionately Affected
Scheduled Tribe-dominated villages account for 46% of the population living in villages still without 4G.
Private Operators Fill Gaps
Intra-circle agreements with Vodafone Idea (Vi) supplemented BSNL's efforts in 12-13 telecom circles.
Background
India has long faced a digital divide between urban and rural areas. While cities enjoy extensive 5G coverage and affordable wired broadband, rural India has relied on mobile broadband as the primary internet access. The government's Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) and BSNL's 4G saturation project aim to bridge this gap.
Key Analysis and Impact
The reduction from 45,180 to 11,372 unconnected villages is significant, but about 40 lakh people (0.25% of India's population) still lack 4G. The data shows that Scheduled Tribe-dominated villages are disproportionately left out, highlighting a need for targeted policy intervention. States like Odisha and Arunachal Pradesh still have high numbers of unconnected villages due to difficult terrain and low population density.
Way Forward
The Union government has sanctioned the next order of 26,000 sites. Continued expansion of BSNL's network, along with private operator participation through intra-circle agreements, will be crucial. The focus must shift to the remaining 11,372 villages, especially those in hilly and tribal areas, to achieve universal 4G coverage.
Villages without 4G: 2022 vs 2026
| Year | Number of villages | Reduction |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 45,180 | - |
| 2026 | 11,372 | About 75% |
Background GK
Textbook concepts you need to understand this news
- Right to Information Act, 2005
- An Act to provide for setting out the practical regime of right to information for citizens to secure access to information under the control of public authorities.
- Department of Telecommunications (DoT)
- The department under the Ministry of Communications responsible for policy, licensing, and regulation of telecommunications in India.
- 4G (Fourth Generation) Connectivity
- A mobile telecommunications standard that provides high-speed internet access, typically with download speeds of 100 Mbps for mobile users.
Facts to remember
Tap a card to see the answer. Try to recall it first.
How exams will ask this
- Data: 45,180 (2022) → 11,372 (2026) villages without 4G; reduction of about 75%
- Nodal Body: Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications
- Legal Point: Right to Information Act, 2005
Don't make this mistake!
The trap will be to confuse the number of villages without 4G with the number of villages covered by the BSNL project (24,680 was the initial target, not the total unconnected villages). Also, 'Scheduled Tribe-dominated villages' vs 'all villages' for the 46% figure.
Write these in mains answers
- Digital divide, Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), BSNL 4G saturation, Scheduled Tribe connectivity
Stuck? Get it in one tap
The number of Indian villages without 4G internet has dropped sharply, from 45,180 in 2022 to 11,372 in 2026. Odisha and Arunachal Pradesh still have the most villages without 4G, and tribal villages are most affected.
- Villages without 4G fell from 45,180 in 2022 to 11,372 in 2026.
- The data was obtained under the Right to Information Act, 2005.
- Odisha has the most unconnected villages (1,789).
- Arunachal Pradesh has the second most (1,518).
- BSNL's 4G saturation project is a key driver of the reduction.
- Governance: Digital India and e-governance
- Science and Technology: Telecommunications and 4G/5G
Related concepts: Right to Information Act, 2005, Department of Telecommunications (DoT), 4G (Fourth Generation) Connectivity
Practice questions
Pick an answer, then read the explanation.
- Q1Easy
Which department is responsible for providing the data on village 4G connectivity under the RTI Act?
Explanation: The data was obtained from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under the RTI Act. The Ministry of Electronics and IT handles IT policy, TRAI is the regulator, and BSNL is a service provider, not the data-holding department.
- Q2Hard
Consider the following statements:
- 1.Villages without 4G connectivity in India fell from 45,180 in 2022 to 11,372 in 2026.
- 2.Odisha has the highest number of villages without 4G coverage, followed by Arunachal Pradesh.
- 3.The population living in villages without 4G is about 0.5% of India's estimated population.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct as the reduction from 45,180 to 11,372. Statement 2 is correct: Odisha tops with 1,789 villages, followed by Arunachal Pradesh with 1,518. Statement 3 is incorrect because about 40 lakh people (0.25% of the population), not 0.5%.
- Q3Medium
What percentage of India's estimated population lives in villages without 4G reception?
Explanation: The analysis suggests around 40 lakh people live in such villages, which amounts to roughly 0.25% of India's estimated population. 0.5% and 1% are higher estimates not supported by the data.
- Q4Medium
What is the primary objective of BSNL's 4G saturation project mentioned in the news?
Explanation: The project aims to bridge the digital divide by providing 4G coverage to villages lacking connectivity. Revenue generation and replacing private operators are not objectives. The project is about 4G, not 5G.
Frequently asked questions
1. How many villages in India still lack 4G connectivity as of 2026?
As of 2026, 11,372 villages in India still lack 4G connectivity, down from 45,180 in 2022.
2. Which state has the most villages without 4G?
Odisha has the highest number, with 1,789 villages without 4G connectivity as of August 31, 2026.
3. What is the BSNL 4G saturation project?
It is a project by BSNL to extend 4G coverage to unconnected villages, initially targeting 24,680 villages but exceeding that number with help from private operators.
4. Which community is disproportionately affected by lack of 4G?
Scheduled Tribe-dominated villages account for 46% of the population living in villages without 4G reception.
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- Original9 November 2026 · Read story
