From Regional Roots to National Spotlight WAM! to Crown India’s Best Creators at WAVES 2025
Posted On: 21 APR 2025 4:08PM by PIB Delhi
After months of regional contests and thousands of entries, finalists from 11 cities across India have been selected to take part in the WAVES Anime & Manga Contest (WAM!) national finale. The prestigious event will take place at WAVES 2025, India’s first-of-its-kind media and entertainment summit, from May 1–4 at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai.
WAM! is organized by the Media & Entertainment Association of India (MEAI) and supported by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India as part of WAVES (World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit). WAVES is India’s biggest platform for the AVGC-XR sector-Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality. At the center of WAVES is the Create in India Challenges (CIC). Season 1 of CIC has made history with around 1 lakh registrations, including 1,100 international participants. After a detailed selection process, 750+ finalists have been chosen from 32 unique challenges.
Among the standout segments under CIC is WAM!. Over the last decade, anime and manga have grown rapidly in India. What started as a niche interest is now a major cultural wave. India has around 180 million anime fans, making it the second-largest anime market after China. The growth is not just in fans, but also in numbers. In 2023, the Indian anime market was worth $1,642.5 million. It is expected to reach $5,036 million by 2032.
WAM! tapped into this growing creative energy by offering structured opportunities for Indian creators to develop and pitch original IPs (Intellectual Property). It fills a gap in India’s media industry by promoting original, culturally-rooted IPs. With the rise of global anime and growing digital literacy, WAM! gives students and professionals a platform to showcase ideas. It provides a clear path to develop pitch-ready IPs, access to industry mentorship and support from the government.
To bring this vision to life, the competition was held across multiple verticals: Manga (Student & Professional), Anime (Student & Professional), Webtoon (Student & Professional), Voice Acting, and Cosplay. The participants—carefully chosen across student and professional categories. WAM! followed a ground-up approach with contests held across 11 cities: Guwahati, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Varanasi, Delhi, Mumbai, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru. The winners from each city were selected by a distinguished jury comprising industry experts from animation, comics, media and entertainment sectors. Their expertise ensured the selection of high-potential talent representing a diversity of voices and storytelling traditions. The regional rounds highlighted India’s rich linguistic and artistic diversity, proving that creative talent knows no boundaries.
Building on this strong foundation, the national finale is not just about celebration-it’s a launchpad. Designed to help participants become industry-ready professionals, it will feature live pitching sessions, networking with production studios, and showcase opportunities with international media giants.
The shortlisted creators now head to Mumbai for the WAM! National Finale at WAVES 2025, where they will present their work to an international jury and live audience. The finale promises high-stakes excitement, with winners receiving:
All-expense-paid trip to Anime Japan 2026 in Tokyo
Anime dubbing in Hindi, English, and Japanese by Gulmohar Media
Webtoon publishing by Toonsutra
WAM! is more than a competition, it is a cultural movement aiming to address a key gap in India’s media landscape: the lack of globally scalable, original content rooted in Indian stories. As WAVES 2025 approaches, the excitement builds. It’s a celebration of talent, originality and the transformative power of storytelling.
Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) created a new record under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. For the first time in the history of independent India, the turnover of Khadi and Village Industries surpassed Rs. 1 lakh 70 thousand crore.
KVIC Chairman Shri Manoj Kumar released the provisional data for the financial year 2024-25.
In the past 11 years, production increased fourfold with a jump of 347% and sales increased fivefold with a jump of 447%.
Historical increase of 49.23% in the field of total employment generation in 11 years, KVIC is providing employment to 1.94 crore persons.
The turnover of Khadi Gramodyog Bhawan New Delhi reached a record figure of Rs. 110.01 crore for the first time.
Chairman KVIC Shri Manoj Kumar said, ‘Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the guidance of the Ministry of MSME, the schemes and achievements of KVIC has established a strong foundation stone of ‘Viksit Bharat’
Posted On: 21 APR 2025 3:35PM by PIB Delhi
The Khadi and Village Industries sector, which empowers the spirit of self-reliance in the country, has not only touched new heights in the last 11 years under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the guidance of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), but has also brought new light to hope in the lives of crores of villagers. Khadi, the legacy of Pujya Bapu, is no longer just a fabric, but has become a symbol of the creation of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’. Said Shri Manoj Kumar Chairman KVIC while releasing the provisional data of Khadi and Village Industries for the financial year 2024-25 at the office located at Rajghat, New Delhi on Monday. He informed that KVIC has set a new record of production, sales and new employment generation in the financial year 2024-25. In the last 11 years, there has been an increase of 447 percent in sales, 347 percent in production and 49.23 percent in employment generation. As said, in the financial year 2023-24, there was an increase of 399.69% in sales and 314.79% in production in comparison to the year 2013-14, he added.
Chairman Shri Manoj Kumar further said that this excellent performance of KVIC has made a significant contribution towards realizing the resolution of ‘Viksit Bharat’ by the year 2047 and making India the third economy of the world. He attributed this historic achievement to the inspiration of Pujya Bapu, the guarantee of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the guidance of the Ministry of MSME and the tireless hard work of crores of artisans working in the remote villages of the Country. Chairman KVIC shared that while the production of Khadi and Village Industry products was Rs. 26109.07 crore in the financial year 2013-14, it increased nearly four times to Rs. 116599.75 crore in the financial year 2024-25 with a jump of 347 percent. While the sales were Rs. 31154.19 crore in the financial year 2013-14, it increased nearly fivefold with an unprecedented growth of 447 percent to reach Rs. 170551.37 crore in the financial year 2024-25, which is the highest sale till date.
Speaking to the media, he opined that unprecedented growth has also been observed in the production of Khadi clothes in the last 11 years. While the production of Khadi clothes was Rs. 811.08 crore in the financial year 2013-14, it increased by 366 percent and increased four and a half times to Rs. 3783.36 crore in the financial year 2024-25, which is the best performance till date. There has also been a tremendous jump in the sales of Khadi clothes. While its sale was only Rs. 1081.04 crore in the financial year 2013-14, it increased by about six and a half times to Rs. 7145.61 crore in the financial year 2024-25 with an increase of 561 percent. The promotion of Khadi by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi from a larger platform has had a huge impact on the sale of Khadi clothes, he reiterated.
Speaking on objective of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission he said that major objective of KVIC is to provide maximum employment opportunities in rural areas. In this area too, KVIC has set a record in the last 11 years. While the cumulative employment was 1.30 crore in the financial year 2013-14, it rose to 1.94 crore in 2024-25 with an increase of 49.23 per cent. There has also been an unprecedented increase in the business of Khadi and Village Industries Bhawan, New Delhi. While the business of Bhavan was Rs. 51.02 crore in the financial year 2013-14, it increased by almost 2 times and reached Rs 110.01 crore in the financial year 2024-25 with a jump of 115 percent. Since the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Employment Generation Program (PMEGP) scheme, a total of 1018185 units have been established, for which the Government of India has distributed margin money subsidy of Rs. 27166.07 crore against a loan of Rs. 73348.39 crore. So far 90,04,541 people are getting employment through PMEGP.
He said that with the aim of providing employment to maximum number of people in rural areas under the Gramodyog Vikas Yojana Scheme, KVIC has more than doubled the budget of Rs 25.65 crore in the financial year 2021-22 by 134 percent to Rs. 60 crore in the financial year 2025-26. So far, 39244 electric pottery wheels, 227049 bee boxes and honey colonies, 2344 automatic and pedal-operated incense stick manufacturing machines, 7735 footwear manufacturing and repairing toolkits, 964 paper plate and dona manufacturing machines, 3494 AC, mobile, sewing, electrician, plumber toolkits, 4555 turnwood, wastewood craft, wooden toy making machines as well as 2367 palm jaggery, oil ghani and tamarind processing machines have been distributed under the Gramodyog Vikas Yojana Scheme. If we talk about the last three financial years, a total of 22284 machines and equipment were distributed in the year 2022-23, 29854 in the financial year 2023-24 and the highest 37218 machines and equipment in the financial year 2024-25. Under Gramodyog Vikas Yojana, KVIC has made a significant contribution in the creation of a self-reliant India by distributing a total of 287752 machines, toolkits and equipment so far.
Speaking on significant contribution towards women empowerment he further said that in the last 10 years, 7,43,904 trainees have been trained through 18 departmental and 17 non-departmental training centres of KVIC, out of which 57.45 percent i.e. 4,27,394 are women. Apart from this, 80 percent of the 5 lakh Khadi artisans are also women. In the last 11 years, the wages of Khadi artisans has been increased by 275 percent while in the last three years, it has been increased by 100 percent.
Soldiers must excel in combat skills while being proficient in mental stability & spirituality to tackle complex challenges: Raksha Mantri MoD inks MoU for better mental health of ECHS beneficiaries
Posted On: 21 APR 2025 3:16PM by PIB Delhi
“To deal with challenges emanating from today’s constantly-evolving nature of warfare, our soldiers must excel in the skills of combat while being equally proficient in mental stability and spiritual empowerment,” said Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh while addressing an event organised at the Brahma Kumaris Headquarters in Mount Abu, Rajasthan on April 21, 2025. He emphasised that, now-a-days, wars are being fought on cyber, space, information & psychological fronts and there is a need for the soldiers to become mentally strong as the nation can be protected with not just weapons, but also with strong personality, enlightened consciousness and awareness.
Shri Rajnath Singh pointed out that while physical strength is fundamental for a soldier, mental strength is equally vital. He stated that soldiers protect the nation while serving in difficult conditions, and these challenges are overcome through an energy born out of a strong inner-self. He added that prolonged stress, uncertainty and working in difficult conditions could affect the mental health, which calls for strengthening the inner self. The Brahma Kumaris’ campaign to bolster the mental health of soldiers is a commendable step in that direction, he said.
Raksha Mantri added that this initiative will further strengthen the minds of the soldiers in view of the present global geopolitical scenario. “The theme of the campaign‘Self-Empowerment – Through Inner Awakening’is extremely interesting and relevant in today’s times. Self transformation through meditation, yoga, positive thinking and self-dialogue will provide mental, emotional & spiritual strength to our brave soldiers. Self transformation is the seed, national transformation is its fruit. In an atmosphere of global uncertainty, India can spread the message that protection of inner-self and borders is possible together,” he said.
Shri Rajnath Singh described spirituality and yoga, which are ingrained in India’s culture, as the biggest means to enhance mental well-being and deal with stress, anxiety and emotional turmoil. He said, an alert and strong security personnel becomes a lighthouse for the nation, which can face any storm with determination. He acknowledged the Security Service Wing of the Brahma Kumaris organisation for bolstering the security forces through residential, field & online programmes, special campaigns and force specific projects.
As part of the event, an MoU was signed between the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence and Headquarters SSW, Rajyoga Education and Research Foundation of Brahma Kumaris in the presence of Shri Rajnath Singh. The aim is to guide Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) beneficiaries towards achieving better mental health and reducing dependency of medicines.
Highlights of Telecom Subscription Data as on 31st January, 2025
Particulars
Wireless
Wireline
Total
(Wireless+
Wireline)
Broadband Subscribers(Million)
904.02*
41.15
945.16
Urban Telephone Subscribers(Million)
631.60*
32.24$
663.83
Net Addition inJanuary, 2025 (Million)
5.17
-4.06
1.11
Monthly Growth Rate
0.82%
-11.18%
0.17%
Rural Telephone Subscribers(Million)
525.41*
2.79$
528.20
Net Addition in January, 2025 (Million)
1.18
-0.18
0.99
Monthly Growth Rate
0.23%
-6.21%
0.19%
Total Telephone Subscribers(Million)
1157.00*
35.03$
1192.03
Net Addition in January, 2025 (Million)
6.35
-4.24
2.10
Monthly Growth Rate
0.55%
-10.80%$
0.18%
Overall Tele-density@(%)
82.06%
2.48%
84.54%
Urban Tele-density@(%)
125.02%
6.38%
131.40%
Rural Tele-density@(%)
58.07%
0.31%
58.38%
Share of Urban Subscribers
54.59%
92.03%
55.69%
Share of Rural Subscribers
45.41%
7.97%
44.31%
In the month of January 2025, 14.14 million subscribers submitted their requests for Mobile Number Portability (MNP). With this, the cumulative MNP requests increased from 1079.19 million at the end of December-24 to 1093.33 million at the end of January-25, since implementation of MNP.
Number of active wireless (Mobile) subscribers (on the date of peak VLR#) in January 2025 was 1065.01 million.
Note:
*Wireless includes 5G FWA subscription also.
$ Decrease in wireline Telephone subscription is due to accounting of 5G FWA Telephone subscription under wireless w.e.f Januray’2025, earlier being erroneously reported under wireline.
@ Based on the projection of population from the ‘Report of the Technical Group on Population Projections for India and States 2011 – 2036’.
# VLR is acronym of Visitor Location Register. The dates of peak VLR for various TSPs are different in different service areas.
The Urban/Rural subscribers, net addition & monthly growth have been calculated considering the revised Subscribers reported by BSNL for the month of December 2024.
Information in this Press Release is based on the data provided by the Service Providers.
Broadband Subscribers
As per the information received from 1180 operators in January 2025, in comparison to 1192 operators in December 2024, the total Broadband Subscribers increased from 944.96 million at the end of December-24 to 945.16 million at the end of January-25 with a monthly growth rate of 0.04%. Segment-wise broadband subscribers and their monthly growth rates are as below: –
Segment–wise Broadband Subscribers and Monthly Growth Rate in the month of January, 2025
Segment
Subscription
Subscribers
(in million)
% Change
Dec-24
Jan-25
Wired subscribers
Fixed (wired) Broadband
(DSL, FTTx, Ethernet/LAN, Cable Modem, ILL)
41.19
41.15
-0.09%*
Wireless Subscribers
Fixed Wireless Broadband
(FWA-5G, Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, Radio, Satellite)
5.21
4.98
-4.39%
Mobile Broadband
(Handset/Dongle based)
898.57
899.04
0.05%
Total Broadband Subscribers
944.96
945.16*
0.04%
* This report is prepared considering the last reported (Nov’2024) internet subscription data submitted by M/s Reliance Jio Infocom Ltd. and M/s Bharti Airtel Ltd., as they did not submit the requisite data in the prescribed format for Dec-2024 & Jan-2025.
Market Share of Top Five Broadband (Wired+Wireless)
98.43%
*As per reported data of Nov-24
The graphical representation of the service provider-wise market share of broadband services is given below: –
Service Provider-wise Market Share of Broadband
(wired + wireless) Services as on 31st January, 2025
As on 31st January, 2025, Top Five Fixed (Wired) Broadband Service providers
S.N.
Name of the Service Provider
Subscriber base
(In million)
Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd
11.48*
Bharti Airtel Ltd
8.55*
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd
4.26
Atria Convergence Technologies Limited
2.28
Kerala Vision Broadband Ltd
1.28
Market Share of Top Five Fixed (Wired) Broadband Service Providers
67.67%
*As per reported data of Nov-24
As on 31st January, 2025, top five Wireless (Fixed wireless & mobile) Broadband Service providers
S.N.
Name of the Service Provider
Subscriber base
(In million)
Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd
465.10*
Bharti Airtel Ltd
280.76*
Vodafone Idea Ltd
126.41
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd
31.52
Intech Online Pvt. Ltd
0.09
Market Share of Top Five Wireless Broadband Service Providers
99.98%
*As per reported data of Nov-24
Wireline Subscribers
Wireline subscribers decreased from 39.27 million on December 24 to 35.03 million on January 25. Hence, the net decrease in the wireline subscriber base was 4.24 million with a monthly rate of decline -10.80%. This decrease is due to the accounting of 5G FWA subscribers’ numbers earlier being erroneously reported under the wireline category but now being accounted for under the wireless category w.e.f January 2025.
The Overall wireline Tele-density in India decreased from 2.79% at the end of December 24 to 2.48% at the end of January 25. Urban and Rural Wireline Tele-density were 6.38% and 0.31%, respectively, during the same period. The share of urban and rural subscribers in total wireline subscribers was 92.03% and 7.97% respectively at the end of January 2025.
BSNL, MTNL, and APSFL, the three PSUs access service providers, held 24.77% of the wireline market share as on 31st January 2025. Detailed statistics of the Wireline subscriber base are available at Annexure-I.
Access Service Provider-wise Market Share of wireline Subscribers
as on 31st January, 2025
Access Service Provider-wise Net Addition/Decline in wireline Subscribers during the month of January, 2025
Wireless (Mobile + 5G FWA) Subscribers
Total wireless subscribers increased from 1,150.66 million (Mobile) on December-24 to 1,157 million (mobile + 5G FWA) on January-25, thereby registering a monthly growth rate of 0.55%. 5G FWA subscribers’ number, earlier being reported under the wireline category, has now been included in the wireless category w.e.f January 2025. Hence, due to the inclusion of 5G FWA subscriber numbers, there is an increase in the monthly growth rate. Total Wireless subscription in urban areas increased from 627.08 million on December 24 to 631.60 million on January 25, while the subscription in rural areas increased from 523.28 million to 525.41 million during the same period. The monthly growth rate of urban and rural wireless subscriptions was 0.82% and 0.23%, respectively.
The Wireless Tele-density in India increased from 81.67% at the end of Dec-24 to 82.06% at the end of Jan-25. The Urban Wireless Tele-density increased from 124.31% at the end of Dec-24 to 125.02% at the end of Jan-25 and the Rural Tele-density increased from 57.89% to 58.07% during the same period. The share of urban and rural wireless subscribers in the total number of wireless subscribers was 54.59% and 45.41%, respectively, at the end of January 25.
The details of Wireless (mobile) and Wireless (5G FWA) subscribers are detailed below: –
(A) Wireless (Mobile) subscriber
Total wireless (Mobile) subscribers increased from 1,150.66 million at the end of December-24 to 1,151.29 million at the end of January-25, thereby registering a monthly growth rate of 0.05%. Wireless (Mobile) subscription in urban areas decreased from 627.08 million at the end of Dec-24 to 626.08 million at the end of Jan-25, however wireless (Mobile) subscription in rural areas increased from 523.28 million to 525.20 million during the same period. Monthly growth rate of urban and rural wireless (Mobile) subscription was -0.06% and 0.19% respectively.
The Wireless (Mobile) Tele-density in India decreased from 81.67% at the end of Dec-24 to 81.65% at the end of Jan-25. The Urban Wireless Tele-density decreased from 124.31% at the end of Dec-24 to 123.92% at the end of Jan-25, however Rural Tele-density increased from 57.89% to 58.05% during the same period. The share of urban and rural wireless (Mobile) subscribers in total number of wireless (Mobile) subscribers was 54.38% and 45.62% respectively at the end of January-25. Detailed statistics of wireless (Mobile) subscriber base is available at Annexure-II
• As on 31st January 2025, the private access service providers held 91.96% market share of the wireless (Mobile) subscribers, whereas BSNL and MTNL, the two PSU access service providers, had a market share of only 8.04%.
The graphical representation of access service provider-wise market share and net additions in wireless (Mobile) subscriber base are given below: –
Access Service Provider-wise Market Shares in term of Wireless (Mobile) Subscribers as on 31st January, 2025
Net Addition/ Decline inWireless (Mobile) Subscribers of Access Service Providers in the month of January 2025
Growth in Wireless (Mobile) Subscribers
Major Access Service Provider-wise Monthly Growth/ Decline Rate of Wireless Subscribers in the month of January, 2025
Service Area-wiseMonthly Growth/ Decline Rate of Wireless (Mobile) Subscribers in the month of January 2025
Except Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, U.P.(W), Maharashtra, Delhi, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, J & K and Kolkata, all other service areas have showed growth in their wireless (Mobile) subscribers during the month of January-25.
(B) Wireless (5G FWA) subscribers
Total wireless (5G FWA) subscribers were 5.72 million at the end of January 25, with subscriptions in urban and rural areas of 5.513 million and 0.202 million, respectively.
The share of urban and rural wireless (5G FWA) subscribers in the total number of wireless (5G FWA) subscribers was 96.46% and 3.54%, respectively at the end of January 25. Detailed statistics of the wireless (5G FWA) subscriber base is available at Annexure-V
M2M cellular mobile connections
Number of M2M cellular mobile connections increased from 59.09 million at the end of December-24 to 63.09 million at the end of January-25.
Bharti Airtel Limited has the highest number of M2M cellular mobile connections 33.04 million with a market share of 52.37% followed by Vodafone idea Limited, Reliance Jio Infocom Limited and BSNL with market share of 25.07%, 17.40% and 5.16% respectively.
Total Telephone Subscribers
The number of total telephone subscribers in India increased from 1,189.92 million at the end of Dec-24 to 1,192.03 million at the end of Jan-25, thereby showing a monthly growth rate of 0.18%. Urban telephone subscription increased from 663.37 million at the end of Dec-24 to 663.83 million at the end of Jan-25 and the rural subscription also increased from 526.56 million to 528.20 million during the same period. The monthly growth rates of urban and rural telephone subscription were 0.17% and 0.19% respectively during the month of January-25.
The overall Tele-density in India increased from 84.45% at the end of Dec-24 to 84.54% at the end of Jan-25. The Urban Tele-density decreased from 131.50% at the end of Dec-24 to 131.40% at the end of Jan-25 however Rural Tele-density increased from 58.22% to 58.38% during the same period. The share of urban and rural subscribers in total number of telephone subscribers at the end of January-25 were 55.69% and 44.31% respectively.
Overall Tele-density (LSA Wise) – As on 31st January, 2025
As may be seen in the above chart, eight LSA have less tele-density than the all-India average tele-density at the end of January-25. Delhi service area has maximum tele-density of 274.17% and the Bihar service area has minimum tele-density of 56.63% at the end of January-25.
Notes: –
Population data/projections are available state wise only.
Tele-density figures are derived from the telephone subscriber data provided by the access service providers and the projection of population from the “Report of the Technical Group on Population Projections for India and States 2011 – 2036.
Telephone subscriber data for Delhi, includes, apart from the data for the State of Delhi, wireless subscriber data for the areas served by the local exchanges of Ghaziabad & Noida (in Uttar Pradesh) and Gurgaon & Faridabad (in Haryana).
Data/information for West Bengal includes Kolkata, Maharashtra includes Mumbai and Uttar Pradesh includes UPE & UPW service area(s).
Data/information for Andhra Pradesh includes Telengana, Madhya Pradesh includes Chhatishgarh, Bihar includes Jharkhand, Maharashtra includes Goa, Uttar Pradesh includes Uttarakhand, West Bengal includes Sikkim and North-East includes Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland & Tripura States.
Category-wise Growth in subscriber base
Circle Category-wise Net Additions in Telephone Subscribers in the month January, 2025
Circle
Category
Net additions in the month of January, 2025
Telephone Subscriber base as on 31st January, 2025
Wireline segment
Wireless* segment
Wireline segment
Wireless* segment
Circle A
-1540337
1906719
13539282
385483296
Circle B
-1654918
2568517
9512781
468875300
Circle C
-654284
1250544
2744860
189962742
Metro
-391829
619569
9229730
112680644
All India
-4241368
6345349
35026653
1157001982
*Wireless includes 5G FWA subscription also
Circle Category-wise monthly and yearly Growth Rates in Telephone Subscribers in the month ofJanuary, 2025
Circle Category
Monthly growth rate (%)
(December-24 to January-25)
Yearly growth rate (%)
(January-24 to January-25)
Wireline Segment
Wireless* Segment
Wireline Segment
Wireless* Segment
Circle A
-10.21%
0.50%
6.59%
-0.54%
Circle B
-14.82%
0.55%
11.42%
-0.56%
Circle C
-19.25%
0.66%
11.64%
1.46%
Metro
-4.07%
0.55%
4.39%
-1.49%
All India
-10.80%
0.55%
7.64%
-0.32%
*Wireless includes 5G FWA subscription also
Note: Circle Category-Metro includes Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. Data for Chennai has been included in Circle Category-A, as part of TamilNadu.
As can be seen in the above tables, in the wireless segment, during the month of January 2025, on a monthly basis, all circles have registered a growth rate in their subscriber base. On a yearly basis, except Circle ‘C’, all other circles have registered a decline in their subscriber base.
In the Wireline segment, during the month of January 2025, on a monthly basis, all circles have registered a decline in their subscriber base while on a yearly basis, all circles have registered growth in their subscribers.
Active Wireless (Mobile) Subscribers (VLR Data)
Out of the total 1151.29 million wireless subscribers, 1065.01 million wireless subscribers were active on the date of peak VLR in the month of January-25. The proportion of active wireless subscribers was approximately 92.51% of the total wireless subscriber base.
The detailed statistics on proportion of active wireless subscribers (also referred to as VLR subscribers) on the date of peak VLR in the month of January-25 is available at Annexure-III and the methodology used for reporting VLR subscribers is available at Annexure-IV.
Access Service Provider-wise Percentage of VLR Subscribers
in the month of January, 2025
Reliance Communication has the maximum proportion 100% of its active wireless subscribers (VLR) as against its total wireless subscribers (HLR) on the date of peak VLR in the month of January-25 and MTNL has the minimum proportion of VLR 48.31% of its HLR during the same period.
Service Area wise percentage of VLR Subscribers
in the month of January, 2025
Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
Intra-service area Mobile number portability (MNP) was implemented first in Haryana service area w.e.f. 25.11.2010 and in the rest of the country w.e.f. 20.01.2011. Inter-Service Area MNP has been implemented in the country w.e.f. 03.07.2015. Now, the wireless telephone subscribers can retain their mobile numbers when they relocate from one service area to another.
During the month of January-25, a total of 14.14 million requests were received for MNP. Out of total 14.14 million, new requests received from Zone-I & Zone-II were 8.16 million and 5.98 million respectively. The cumulative MNP requests increased from 1079.19 million at the end of December-24 to 1093.33 million at the end of January-25, since the implementation of MNP.
In MNP Zone-I (Northern and Western India), the highest number of requests till date have been received in Uttar Pradesh-East (about 108.37 million) followed by Maharashtra (about 89.08 million) service area.
In MNP Zone-II (Southern and Eastern India), the highest number of requests till date have been received in Madhya Pradesh (about 86.03 million) followed by Karnataka (about 72.50 million).
Note: BSNL has revised the no. of rural subscribers from 29,300,726 to 29,946,250 for the month of December, 2024
Note: Peak VLR figures in some circles of some of the service providers are more than their HLR figures due to a large number of inroamers.
Annexure IV
VLR Subscribers in the Wireless Segment
Home Location Register (HLR) is a central database that contains details of each mobile phone subscriber that is authorized to use the GSM core network. The HLRs store details of every SIM card issued by the service provider. Each SIM has a unique identifier called an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), which is the primary key to each HLR record. The HLR data is stored for as long as a subscriber remains with the service provider. HLR also manages the mobility of subscribers by means of updating their position in administrative areas. It sends the subscriber data to a Visitor Location Register (VLR).
Subscriber numbers reported by the service providers is the difference between the numbers of IMSI registered in service provider’s HLR and sum of other figures as given below: –
1
Total IMSI’s in HLR (A)
2
Less: (B = a + b + c + d + e)
a.
Test/Service Cards
b.
Employees
c.
Stock in hand/in Distribution Channels (Active Card)
d.
Subscriber Retention period expired
e.
Service suspended pending disconnection
3
Subscribers Base (A-B)
Visitor Location Register (VLR) is a temporary database of the subscribers who have roamed into the particular area, which it serves. Each base station in the network is served by exactly one VLR; hence a subscriber cannot be present in more than one VLR at a time.
If subscriber is in active stage i.e. he is able to send/receive calls/SMSs he is available both in HLR and VLR. However, it may be possible that the subscriber is registered in HLR but not in VLR due to the reason that he is either switched-off or moved out of coverage area, not reachable etc. In such circumstances he will be available in HLR but not in VLR. This causes difference between subscriber number reported by the service providers based on HLR and numbers available in VLR.
The VLR subscriber data calculated here is based on active subscribers in VLR on the date of Peak subscriber number in VLR of the particular month for which the data is being collected. This data is to be taken from the switches having the purge time of not more than 72 hours.
BharatNet Extending Internet Access, Expanding Rural Progress
Posted On: 21 APR 2025 2:48PM by PIB Delhi
Q: What is the BharatNet project?
A: BharatNet is an ambitious project of the Government of India aimed at providing broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country. It is one of the biggest rural telecom projects in the world.
Q: What is the objective of the BharatNet project?
A: The primary objective is to provide unrestricted access to broadband connectivity to all the telecom service providers. This enables access providers like mobile operators, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Cable TV operators, and content providers to launch various services such as e-health, e-education, and e-governance in rural and remote India. It aims to empower rural India, foster inclusive growth, and bridge the gap between urban and rural communities.
Q: How many Gram Panchayats (GPs) are targeted under BharatNet?
A: The project initially aimed to connect approximately 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats across the country.
Q: What are the different phases of the BharatNet project?
A: The Telecom Commission approved the implementation of the project in three phases on 30.04.2016:
Phase I: Focused on laying optical fibre cables to connect 1 lakh Gram Panchayats by utilising existing infrastructure. This phase was completed in December 2017
Phase II(ongoing): Expanded coverage to an additional 1.5 lakh Gram Panchayats using optical fibre, radio, and satellite technologies. This phase incorporated collaborative efforts with state governments and private entities.
Phase III(ongoing): Aims at future-proofing the network by integrating 5G technologies, increasing bandwidth capacity, and ensuring robust last-mile connectivity. This phase is ongoing. The Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) approved in August 2023 can be considered part of this evolution.
Q: What is the Amended BharatNet Program (ABP)?
A: Approved in August 2023, the ABP is a design improvement aiming for Optical Fibre (OF) connectivity to 2.64 lakh GPs in ring topology (a network design where connected devices form a circular data channel) and OF connectivity to the remaining non-GP villages on demand. It includes features like IP-MPLS (Internet Protocol Multi-Protocol Label Switching) network with routers at Blocks and GPs, operation and maintenance for 10 years, power backup, and Remote Fibre Monitoring System (RFMS). The cost allocated is Rs. 1,39,579 crores.
Q: What other initiatives support digital empowerment in rural India?
A: Several other initiatives complement BharatNet, including:
Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA): To ensure digital literacy in rural households, with over 6.39 crore individuals trained by March 31, 2024.
National Broadband Mission (NBM): Launched to fast-track the expansion of digital communications infrastructure. National Broadband Mission 2.0 was launched on January 17, 2025. Key initiatives under NBM include the Centralized Right of Way (RoW) Portal GatiShakti Sanchar.
Q: How is BharatNet being funded?
A: BharatNet is primarily funded through the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), which is a fund that replaced the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF). The total funding for BharatNet (Phase-I and Phase-II) approved by the Cabinet is Rs 42,068 crores (exclusive of GST, Octroi, and local taxes). As of 31.12.2023, a total of Rs. 39,825 crores have been disbursed under the BharatNet Project since its inception.
Q: Who is executing the BharatNet project?
A: The project is being executed by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) namely Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL), which was incorporated on 25.02.2012 under the Indian Companies Act 1956. Under the Amended BharatNet Program, BSNL is appointed as the single Project Management Agency (PMA) for Operation & Maintenance of the entire network.
Q: What is the current status of BharatNet implementation?
A:
As of 19th March 2025, 2,18,347GPs have been made service ready under the BharatNet project in the country.
As of March 25, 2025, the Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) length has increased to 42.13 lakh route km.
As of 13.01.2025, 6,92,676 Km of OFC (Optical Fiber Cable) has been laid.
12,21,014 Fibre-To-The-Home (FTTH) connections are commissioned
1,04,574 Wi-Fi hotspots are installed.
Q: How is the BharatNet network utilised?
A: The network is utilised through leasing bandwidth and dark fibre, Wi-Fi to access broadband or internet services in public places, and Fibre to the Home (FTTH). Last Mile Connectivity (LMC) is provided through Wi-Fi in public places or other suitable broadband technologies, including FTTH at Government institutions such as schools, hospitals, post offices, etc.
Q: What are the benefits and impact of the BharatNet project?
A: BharatNet has had a transformative impact on rural India, contributing to socioeconomic development in multiple ways:
Digital Inclusion: Connecting remote villages to high-speed internet, enabling access to e-governance, online education, and telemedicine.
Economic Opportunities: Enabling participation in digital commerce, access to financial services, and entrepreneurial opportunities.
Education and Healthcare: Facilitating digital classrooms and telehealth services.
Empowering Local Governance: Enabling Gram Panchayats to implement e-governance projects.
Q: What is the role of CSC e-Governance Services India Limited in BharatNet?
A: CSC (Common Services Centre) e-Governance Services India Limited (CSC-SPV) was assigned to provide the last mile connectivity in GPs through Wi-Fi Access Points and FTTH connections. As of September 2024, 1,04,574 Wi-Fi Access Points and 11,41 ,825 FTTH connections have been installed in the GPs. CSC-SPV also undertook a pilot project for laying overhead optical fiber from GPs.
Q: What is the collaboration between DBN and NABARD?
A: Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) have signed an MoU to drive rural development by providing access to digital services, digital governance, and promoting a digital economy through high-speed broadband connectivity under the BharatNet program. Key areas of collaboration include reference data sharing, digital content sharing, digital services integration, awareness and capacity building, promoting a digital economy, and inclusion of ICT infrastructure.
Q: How does BharatNet relate to mobile connectivity in rural areas?
A: Alongside BharatNet, the government is also focusing on expanding mobile connectivity in rural areas. As of December 2024, around 6,25,853 villages are covered with mobile connectivity, including 6,18,968 villages having 4G mobile coverage. The median mobile broadband speed has increased significantly. These efforts are complementary to BharatNet in bridging the digital divide.
Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development Shri Anil Malik today received the PM’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration (Innovation category) from Prime Minister ,Shri Narendra Modi for the groundbreaking Poshan Tracker revolutionising real-time nutrition service delivery across India.
The Poshan Tracker is a mobile based application used by Anganwadi workers to provide real time data on delivery of nutrition and childcare services.
EPFO Adds 16.10 Lakh Net Members during February 2025 7.39 Lakh New Members Enrolled with EPFO
Posted On: 21 APR 2025 2:26PM by PIB Delhi
The Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has released provisional payroll data for February 2025, revealing a net addition of 16.10 lakh members. The year-on-year analysis reveals a growth of 3.99% in net payroll additions compared to February 2024, signifying increased employment opportunities and heightened awareness of employee benefits, bolstered by EPFO’s effective outreach initiatives.
Key highlights of the EPFO Payroll Data (February 2025) are as follows:
New Subscribers:
EPFO enrolled around 7.39 lakh new subscribers in February 2025. This addition of new subscribers can be attributed to growing employment opportunities, increased awareness of employee benefits, and EPFO’s successful outreach programs.
Age Group 18-25 Leads Payroll Addition:
A noticeable aspect of the data is the dominance of the 18-25 age group, 4.27 lakh new subscribers added in the 18-25 age group, constituting a significant 57.71% of the total new subscribers added in February 2025. This is in consonance with the earlier trend which indicates that most individuals joining the organized workforce are youth, primarily first-time job seekers.
Further, the net payroll addition for the age group 18-25 for February 2025 is approximately 6.78 lakh reflecting a growth of 3.01% from the previous year in February 2024.
Rejoined Members:
Approximately 13.18 lakh members, who had exited earlier, rejoined EPFO in February 2025. This figure depicts a significant 11.85% year-over-year growth compared to February 2024. These members switched their jobs and re-joined the establishments covered under the ambit of EPFO and opted to transfer their accumulations instead of applying for final settlement thus safeguarding long-term financial well-being and extending their social security protection.
Growth in Female Membership:
Around 2.08 lakhs new female subscribers joined EPFO in February 2025. It depicts year-over-year growth of 1.26% compared to February 2024.
Further, the net female payroll addition during the month stood at around 3.37 lakh, a significant year over year growth of 9.23% compared to February 2024. The growth in female member additions is indicative of a broader shift towards a more inclusive and diverse workforce.
State-wise Contribution:
State-wise analysis of payroll data denotes that the top five states/ UTs constitute around 59.75% of net payroll addition, adding a total around 9.62 lakh net payroll during the month. Of all the states, Maharashtra is leading by adding 20.90% of net payroll during the month. The states/UTs of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat, Haryana, Delhi, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh individually added more than 5% of the total net payroll during the month.
Industry-wise Trends:
Month-on-month comparison of industry-wise data displays growth in the net payroll addition working in establishments engaged in the industries viz.
FISH PROCESSIGN AND NON-VEG FOOD PRESERVATION,
SOCIETIES CLUBS OR ASSOCIATIONS,
ESTABLISHMENTS ENGAGED IN CLEANING, SWEEPING SERVICES,
ESTABLISHMENT ENGAGED IN MANUFACTURE, MARKETING SERVICING, USAGE OF COMPUTERS,
ESTABLISHMENTS OF AIRCRAFT OR AIRLINES,
Of the total net payroll addition, around 41.72% addition is from expert services (consisting of manpower suppliers, normal contractors, security services, miscellaneous activities etc.).
The above payroll data is provisional since data generation is a continuous exercise, as updating employee record is a continuous process. The previous data gets updated every month on account of:
ECRs being filed for previous months after generation of payroll report.
ECRs filed earlier being modified after generation of payroll reports.
Date of exit from EPF membership for previous months being updated after generation of payroll report.
From the month of April 2018, EPFO has been releasing payroll data covering the period September 2017 onwards. In monthly payroll data, the count of members joining EPFO for the first time through Aadhaar validated Universal Account Number (UAN), existing members exiting from coverage of EPFO and those who exited but re-joined as members, is taken to arrive at net monthly payroll.
The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today condoled the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. He hailed him as beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage.
He wrote in a post on X:
“Deeply pained by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. In this hour of grief and remembrance, my heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community. Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the world. From a young age, he devoted himself towards realising the ideals of Lord Christ. He diligently served the poor and downtrodden. For those who were suffering, he ignited a spirit of hope.
I fondly recall my meetings with him and was greatly inspired by his commitment to inclusive and all-round development. His affection for the people of India will always be cherished. May his soul find eternal peace in God’s embrace.”
Deeply pained by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. In this hour of grief and remembrance, my heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community. Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon of compassion, humility and spiritual courage by millions across the… pic.twitter.com/QKod5yTXrB
Yuva Shakti with the Power of Knowledge key to Viksit Bharat”: Sarbananda Sonowal “Knowledge is power, and students must acquire it”: Sarbananda Sonowal
“New ideas and innovative thinking of Students must be harnessed”: Sarbananda Sonowal
Posted On: 20 APR 2025 6:14PM by PIB Delhi
The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal called on harnessing new Ideas and innovative thinking of students. Sonowal identified how Yuva Shakti with the Power of Knowledge are key to realising the vision of Viksit Bharat. Shri Sonowal was addressing and interacting the students of Sreeram Academy Pathsala today on the occasion of its 20th Foundation Day celebration.
Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The vibrant gathering included students, teachers, parents, alumni, and distinguished local dignitaries, making the occasion a memorable milestone in the institution’s illustrious journey.
On the occasion, Union Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said, “Students must not confine themselves to textbooks alone; they should strive to introduce new ideas and innovative thinking.” He highlighted the transformative initiatives of the Government of India, noting, “Programmes like Digital India, Make in India, and Skill India have been launched to empower the new generation, equipping them with the tools to lead and innovate.”
“Knowledge is power, and students must acquire it and apply it effectively for the greater good.” Shri Sonowal also underscored the significance of value-based education, stating, “Education rooted in moral values must be prioritised. I urge parents to raise their children as responsible citizens and also to emphasised the importance of integrating Yoga and holistic health practices into daily life. “Yoga is not just physical exercise; it is a way of life that brings mental clarity and physical strength. It helps one stay focused, balanced, and healthy,” added Shri Sarbananda Sonowal.
The celebration featured captivating cultural performances by students, including dance, music, and drama, which showcased their talents and enthralled the audience.
The event was also attended by Phanidhar Talukdar, MLA of Bhawanipur Constituency, Shri Dhanpati Deka, Honorable Vice-Chancellor of Bhattadev University, Dr. Kakali Das, Principal Shree Ram Academy along with other notable dignitaries.
Historic Women Representation in Civil Services: Dr. Jitendra Singh Hails Largest-Ever Representation of 74 Women IAS Officers in a Batch of 180, Nearly 41 Percent Union Minister Interacts with IAS Officer Trainees of 2023 batch; Highlights India’s Administrative Transformation and Vision for Viksit Bharat @ 2047
Interaction was part of the ongoing Assistant Secretary programme, wherein the IAS Officer Trainees are attached to 46 Central Ministries for a period of 8 weeks
This batch of IAS officers is not only the youngest and most diverse—but also the most representative of New India’s aspirations: Dr. Singh
Posted On: 20 APR 2025 4:47PM by PIB Delhi
In a thought-provoking and motivating interaction with the Officer Trainees (OTs) of the 2023 IAS batch, Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space hailed the largest women representation in the history of Indian Administrative Services, with 74 women officers, making up 41 percent of the current batch of 180 officers.
The interaction was part of the ongoing Assistant Secretary programme, wherein the IAS Officer Trainees are attached to 46 Central Ministries for a period of 8 weeks from April 1 to May 30, 2025, giving them early exposure to policy formulation and the workings of the Central Government.
Dr. Jitendra Singh attributed this landmark development to the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, under whose tenure women-led initiatives have gained unprecedented momentum. “The Prime Minister has always been a champion of women empowerment. This record representation is a testament to his unwavering support for inclusive and progressive governance,” the Minister said.
The Minister reflected on the inception of the Assistant Secretary Programme in 2015, calling it Prime Minister Modi’s brainchild to give young officers real-time governance exposure at the beginning of their careers. “The programme has brought a resurgence of confidence among officers. During the pandemic, many of these officers performed remarkably when called upon for district-level crisis management,” Dr. Jitendra Singh added.
As the initiative marks its 10th anniversary, Dr. Jitendra Singh noted its outstanding impact on nurturing capable and confident civil servants. He also celebrated the democratisation of Civil Services, with increasing representation from states like Punjab, Haryana, and the North-East, regions that earlier saw fewer selections.
The Minister took pride in the academic and professional diversity of the batch, mentioning that 99 officers hail from engineering backgrounds, along with many from medicine and other technical fields. “For years, I wondered why technocrats joined the civil services. But now, I realize the technical nature of flagship Government programmes—from Digital India to Smart Cities—makes their presence a national asset,” he said.
Dr. Jitendra Singh praised the young average age (22–26 years) of the batch, which provides a long-span career trajectory to contribute to the nation. He urged the officers to stay technologically ahead and make full use of the iGOT Karmayogi platform, a digital learning ecosystem offering continuously updated capacity-building modules.
“You are fortunate to be in the best of times, when India is rapidly moving towards becoming Viksit Bharat @2047,” he emphasized.
In an open-floor dialogue with the young officers, Dr. Jitendra Singh expressed support for a more dynamic and flexible civil service ecosystem, where officers may be allowed to gain exposure outside government for a few years and return as domain specialists—a model that he termed “a win-win for both the officer and the government.”
On the issue of bridging the digital divide, the Minister called technology a great leveller, citing examples like the Swamitva Mission, which eliminates the need for revenue officials by leveraging drone-based property mapping. “This has democratised access to land records and decentralised service delivery at the grassroots,” he said.
Dr. Jitendra Singh also stressed the importance of grievance redressal mechanisms, urging the trainees to study the CPGRAMS platform, which he described as a global benchmark. “Nearly 26 lakh grievances have been disposed of with a 98% resolution rate, most within 13 days,” he shared.
Yet, he reminded the officers that human intelligence and empathy must complement technology. “Despite resolving grievances technically, many citizens still feel emotionally dissatisfied. That’s why we have created a ‘human desk’ to provide emotional closure, proving that governance is not just administrative but deeply human,” he remarked.
In a moving exchange, one of the Officer Trainees quoted Dr. Singh’s past speech “One retires from service, not from citizenship.” Responding to this, Dr. Singh spoke about initiatives to involve retired civil servants through a Digital Repository of Expertise, allowing India to harness their knowledge. He also highlighted the Anubhav Awards, which encourage retiring officers to document their experiences for the benefit of future generations.
As the interaction concluded, Dr. Jitendra Singh urged the young civil servants to uphold the highest standards of integrity, accountability, and service, aligning their efforts with the spirit of Antyodaya—working for the last man standing.
“This batch of IAS officers is not only the youngest and most diverse—but also the most representative of New India’s aspirations. Let your work reflect the hopes of a billion people.” said Dr. Jitendra Singh.