New Delhi: Highlighting the achievements of the Narendra Modi government, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said that tariff rates have come down by 95 percent for voice calls and 97 percent for mobile data in the last 10 years.
“Under the leadership of PM Modi, India is progressing not only in the global south but across the world. We are becoming an atmanirbhar (self-sufficient) country and have evolved as a developed country. It is a step towards the dream of being Amrit kaal to shatabdi kaal. In these 25 years, we aim to see India evolve into a vishwaguru,” Scindia said at an event in New Delhi on Monday evening.
He noted that India has succeeded in a 5G network, launched in October 2022, covering 97 percent of cities and 80 percent of the population.
He further highlighted that the government provided mobile connectivity to 9,560 unconnected villages in its first 100 days. Moreover, he added that in his third term, PM Modi has aimed to establish 27,648 towers, out of which 27 percent have been completed already. “By 15 September, we installed 7,258 new mobile towers across the country.”
He added that the 36,721 villages that remain outside telecom and mobile internet connectivity will be connected by mid-2025, ensuring 100 percent coverage.
Internet connectivity, N-E development
India has become one of the six countries globally to develop its own 4G technology, marking a step further toward self-reliance, the minister said.
“The tariff has come down from 51 paise to 3 paise, marking a 95 percent drop. 1GB of Internet bandwidth has gone down from Rs 297 per GB to Rs 8.7 per GB over 10 years, which is a 97 percent drop. On the other hand, moving from 3G to 4G and 4G to 5G, telcos have undertaken a capex of Rs 4.26 lakh crore just only over the last two fiscal years. If you put in more investments, there has to be a return,” he said.
Scindia underlined that the government had already approved 111 funding proposals for 6G network and technology research across institutes in India.
The telecom minister added that efforts are being made to improve the quality of call and data service. “We’ll undertake quarterly reviewing and monitoring of call quality with a granular view of the entire operation,” he said.
Regarding the 100-day achievements of the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region, Scindia, who is also Minister for Development of North Eastern Region, said that in 2014, Rs 24,819 crore was spent based on 10 percent of the Gross Budgetary Support (GPS) in the northeastern states. “In the fiscal year 2023-2024, an investment of Rs 1,02,000 crore has been made in the eight northeastern states, which is almost more than four times the amount compared to the last ten years,” he noted.
As many as 850 new schools have been established in northeastern states, he said. Further, an investment of Rs 32,000 crore has been made in the healthcare sector. “Cancer is a significant challenge in the northeastern states, and the Tata Cancer Institute has been given the approval to establish 18 centres in the northeastern states, out of which 7 have been fully developed and are operational today,” added Scindia.
Scindia further noted that in December, the Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav in Delhi will showcase the eight northeastern states. “This event will feature handicrafts, handlooms, agricultural produce, crafts, and tourism from all eight states, offering an opportunity to present these to both national and international audiences,” he added.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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