The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has released the draft rules to operationalise the Digital Bharat Nidhi, to increasing the telecom connectivity in rural areas.
It would replace the erstwhile Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).
USOF is a pool of funds generated by a 5 per cent Universal Service Levy charged upon all the telecom fund operators on their Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR).
Contributions made by telecom companies towards the Digital Bharat Nidhi will first be credited to the Consolidated Fund of India (CFI).
Between 2017 and 2022, the government had collected Rs 41,740 crore towards the USOF, of which it had utilised Rs 30,213 crore – about 72 per cent.
Most notably, in 2019-20, the collection was Rs 7,962 crore, of which the utilised amount was just Rs 2,926 crore.