Notification of Telecommunications (Administration of Digital Bharat Nidhi) Rules, 2024

5572 GI/202 4 (1) EXTRAORDINARY PART II —Section 3 —Sub-section ( i) PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 490] NEW DELHI, FRIDAY , AUGUST 30, 2024 / BHADRA 8, 194 6 CG-DL-E-31082024-256808 MINISTRY OF COM MUNICATION (Department of Telec ommunication) NOTIFI CATION New D elhi, the 30th August, 2024. G.S.R. 530 (E).–– Whereas a draft of the Telecommunications (Digital Bharat Nidhi ) Rules , 2024, which the Central Government proposes to make in exercise of the powers conferred by section 26 read with clause (x) of sub -section (2) of section 56 of the Telecommunications Act, 2024 (44 of 2023), was published as required by sub -section (1) of the section 56 of the said Act vide notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Communication, Department of Telecommunication number G.S.R. 365(E), dated the 4th July, 2024, in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, section 3, sub -section (i), dated the 4th July, 2024, inviting objections and suggestions from the persons likely to be affected thereby, before the expiry of the period of thirty days from the date on which the copies of the Official Gazette containing the said notification were made available to the public; And whereas copies of the said Official Gazette were made available to the public on the 4th July, 2024; And whereas the objections and suggestions received from the public in respect of the said draft rules have been duly considered by the Central Government; Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 26 read with clause (x) of sub -section (2) of section 56 of the Telecommunications Act, 2024 (44 of 2023), and in supersession of rules 523 and 527 of the Indian Telegraph Rules, 1951, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before such supersession and without overriding the terms and conditions of existing arrangements under those rules till the date of expiry of such arrangements, the Central Government hereby makes the following rules, namely: — 1. Short title and commencement.–– (1) These rules may be called the Telecommunications (Administration of Digital Bharat Nidhi ) Rules, 2024. (2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. 2. Definitions. – (1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires, –– (a) “Act” means the Telecommunications Act, 2023 (44 of 2023); (b) “ Administrator ” means the Administrator of the Digital Bharat Nidhi appointed by the Central Government, by notification in Official Gazette, for the administration of the Digital Bharat Nidhi ; (c) “ agreement ” means a contractual agreement made between the Administrator and one or more Implementers, to implement schemes and projects for the purpose of achieving the objectives of the Digital Bharat Nidhi ; (d) “ bidding ” means the process of selecting an Implementer for procurement of goods or services or execution of works, by calling for bids; (e) " Digital Bharat Nidhi " means the Digital Bharat Nidhi established under sub -section (1) of section 24 of the Act; (f) “Implementer " means any person with whom the Administrator has entered into an agreement; and (g) “ objective " means any or all of the objectives mentioned in the clauses (a) to (d) of section 25 of the Act. (2) Words and expressions used in these rules and not defined herein but defined in the Act shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Act. 3. Powers and funct ions of Admini strator.–– (1) The Administrator shall select Implementers through the process of bidding or inviting applications from eligible persons as specified in sub -rule (1) of rule 7, or through the process of nomination as specified in sub -rule (2) of the said rule, for the purpose of achieving the objectives of Digital Bharat Nidhi . (2) The Administr ator shall have the following powers and functions, namely: –– (a) to f ormulate the procedure for bidding incl uding its t erms and conditions, format of application, eligibility criteria and evaluation criteria for selection of Implementers pursuant to such bidding; (b) to formulate the procedure for in viting and evaluating applications for selection of Implementers; (c) to en ter into agreement with Implementers; (d) to settle claims and disburse funds from the Digital Bharat Nidhi to Implementers; (e) to s ettle disputes with Implementers through mediation, arbitration, conciliation or judicial proceeding, as may be provided for in the agreement; (f) to mon itor, evaluate or verify the work done by Implementers through any competent body including any third-party agencies; (g) to s pecify procedures and records, along with formats, to be maintained and furnished by Implementers; (h) to en gage persons including c onsultants, advisors or an entity for the purpose of planning, formulation, contract management, midterm re view, verification, monitoring, financing, evaluation, impact assessment and management of schemes and projects; (i) to specify the terms and conditions relating to the assets created from the funds disbursed from the Digital Bharat Nidhi ; (j) to u ndertake pilot study, pursuant to achieving the objectives of the Digital Bharat Nidhi ; (k) to create a digital portal to enable Implementers and other stakeholders to provide services, facilitate interaction, reporting and monitoring of schemes and projects; and (l) to pe rform such other functions as may be assigned by the Central G overnment for the purposes of achieving the objectives of the Digital Bharat Nidhi . (3) The Administra tor may, by order in w riting, designate any officer of the Central Government not below the rank of Joint Secretary to the Government of India, for the efficient administration of these rules. 4. Funding fr om Digital Bhar at Nidhi. – (1) Funding from the Digital Bharat Nidhi shall be provided to Implementers to implement schemes and projects for the purpose of achieving the objectives of the Digital Bharat Nidhi as specified under section 25 of the Act. (2) Funds, in terms of a percentage of annual collection under the Digital Bharat Nidhi , as the Administrator may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify, s hall be utilised for achieving the objectives specified under clause (b) of the section 25 of the Act. (3) The m odalities for funding provided from t he Digital Bharat Nidhi for schemes and projects, may be determined by the Administrator on a case-to-case basis, including but not limited to full funding, partial funding, co - funding, market risk mitigation or risk capital. (4) The Digital Bharat Nidhi shall fund schemes and projects for providing targeted access to telecommunication services for underserved groups of the society, such as, women, persons with disabilities and economically and socially weaker secti ons. (5) The funds shall be released to the Implementers in such manner, at such intervals and subject to such conditions, as may be specified in the agreement. 5. Criteria for undert aking schemes and pro jects under Digital Bharat Nidhi .–– The schemes and projects for the purposes of achieving the objectives of the Digital Bharat Nidhi , shall meet one or more of the following criteria, namely :–– (a) to provision telecommunication services, incl uding mobile and broadband services and telecommunication equipment required for delivery of telecommunication services, and enhancing telecom security in unde rserved rural, r emote and urban areas; (b) to cre ate telecommunication network for provisioning of telecommunications services, incl uding mobile and broadband services, in underserved rural, re mote and urban areas; (c) to introduce next generation telecommunication technologies in underserved rural, remo te and urban areas; (d) to p rovide or improve access to advanced telecommunication services in underserved rural, r emote and urban areas; (e) to improve affordability of telecommunication services in underserved rural, remote and urban areas; (f) to p romo te innovation, research and development, promotion and commercialisation of indigenou s technology development and associated in tellectual property including creation of regulatory sandboxes, where necessary; (g) to develop and establish relevant standards to meet national requirements and their standardisation in international standardisation bodies; (h) to en courage start-ups in telecommunications sector; (i) to create bridge between the academia, research institutes, start -ups and industry for capacity building and development of telecom ecosystem; (j) to create new technological solutions and deploy new technologies f or improving access to telecommunications services; (k) to p romo te sustainable and green technologies in t elecommunications sector; (l) to establish or fund any person to promote telecommunications growth, telecommunications research and development, standards, start -ups and telecom manufacturing facilities towards Atmanirbhar Bharat ; (m) s uch other criteria as may be determined by the Adm inistrat or as deemed necessary to meet the objectives of the Act. 6. Sharing of tel ecommuni cation ne tworks established under Digital Bharat Nidhi .— Any Implementer, receiving funding from the Digital Bharat Nidhi for establishing, operating, maintaining or expanding a telecommunication network, shall share and make available such telecommunication network and telecommunication services, being delivered using the telecommunication networks on an open and non-discriminatory basis, and in accordance with the instructions issued by the Administrator from time to ti me in this behalf. 7. Selection proc ess of Implementer. – (1) The process for selection of Implementers f or the purposes of achieving the objectives of the Digital Bharat Nidhi , shall be in accordance with Tabl e-A: Table -A S. No. Area of funding Process of selection 1. Promote and support Telecommunication services for promoting access to and delivery of established telecommunication services in underserved rural, remote and urban areas, including consultancy assistance and advisory support Selection by bidding 2. Promote and support Research and development of new or emerging telecommunication technologies or products or services through, but not limited to, research projects and pilots, co - funding, viability gap funding, and risk capital upto to commercialisation. Selection by application Explanation .— For the purposes of this regulation, “selection by application” means the process of selecting an Implementer through a call for proposal or expression of interest, on the basis of technical parameters. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub -rule (1), the Administrator may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, to address any special circumstances and with the approval of the Central Government, select an Implementer by nomination for the execution of projects and schemes in furtherance of the objectives of Digital Bharat Nidhi . [F. No. DoT/UBB/2024 -1/TelecomAct2023 -Rules] DEVENDRA KUMAR RAI , Jt. Secy . Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring R oad, Mayapuri, New Delhi -110064 and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi -110054.