Digital Bharat Nidhi

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has notified new rules called Telecommunications (Administration of Digital Bharat Nidhi) Rules, 2024. The Universal Services Obligation Fund (USOF) created under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 has been rechristened as Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), under the Telecommunications Act 2023.

Now, the government has expanded the fund’s scope. This expansion aims to establish relevant benchmarks, promote startups, and give an edge to indigenous technology among other objectives. Projects funded under DBN must operate and maintain telecommunication networks on an open and non-discriminatory basis.