Samriddh Gram: BharatNet Service Model Nominated for WSIS Prize
Why in the news
A rural digital service model, Samriddh Gram, made it to the nomination list of the WSIS Prizes 2026 for how it uses ICT to support sustainable village development.
About Samriddh Gram
- Meaning: “Prosperous Village”; a phygital (physical plus digital) service delivery model.
- Lead agency: Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications.
- Backbone: the high-speed fibre network of BharatNet.
- Hub: Samriddhi Kendras, community centres of 800-1000 sq. ft. offering assisted digital services.
- First milestone: first Samriddhi Kendra opened in Umri Village, Madhya Pradesh.
Services at a Samriddhi Kendra
| Area | Services |
|---|---|
| Healthcare | Telemedicine through e-Sanjeevani; health kiosks for basic checks and vitals |
| Education | AR/VR smart classrooms; Diksha, Swayam and vocational labs |
| Agriculture | IoT soil sensors, smart pump controllers, drone-based spraying |
| Governance | Assisted access to e-schemes; ONDC link for local artisans |
| Safety | Smart CCTV and drone surveillance |
| Connectivity | PM-WANI hotspots and Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) |
About the WSIS Prizes
- Run under the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as a global recognition platform for digital development.
- Honour projects using ICTs to advance the UN SDGs.
- India is nominated under Action Line C6: Enabling Environment, covering legal, policy and infrastructure frameworks.
- Winners chosen through a multistakeholder process with public voting and expert evaluation.
Key concepts
- BharatNet is the “highway” of fibre; Samriddh Gram supplies the “vehicles” of services.
- PM-WANI (Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) lets small shopkeepers and village centres run public Wi-Fi without a big tower.
Exam angle
- Nomination category: C6; managing body: ITU; first centre: Umri, Madhya Pradesh.
- Lead agency: Department of Telecommunications.