Jyotiraditya Scindia

Satcom, Vodafone Idea survival, frauds keep telecom sector abuzz in 2025

Entry of new communications service providers in the form of satcom created a spark in the sector with Elon Musk-led Starlink getting permission to start services but pending security clearance and delay in decision over spectrum pricing have pushed its potential roll out to the next year. Union telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia told PTI that satcom services, which were earlier a figment of imagination, will be a reality soon. "We have given out three licences. You are looking at, hopefully, very soon, the pricing norm coming out for administratively assigned spectrum and that satellite technology being also offered in our bouquet of offerings to the public," Scindia said. Entry of Starlink is expected to add to the competition in the premium segment, which is dominated by telecom operators -- mainly Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. The government has been making an effort to revive Vodafone Idea (VIL) and BSNL to check the market from getting into a duopoly and continue to keep

Growth in Northeast has been transformational: Jyotiraditya Scindia

Northeast is growing 1.6x faster than India, with ₹4.48 trillion in investment commitments and a push on logistics, credit and connectivity, says Scindia

YEF Summit 2025: Leaders pitch Madhya Pradesh as hub for entrepreneurs

Leaders at the YEF Bharat Summit 2025 in Indore highlighted Madhya Pradesh's growth story, India's expanding start-up ecosystem and the growing role of young entrepreneurs

India will surpass Germany to become third-largest economy by 2027: Scindia

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Saturday expressed confidence that India will surpass Germany to become the world's third-largest economy by the end of 2027, lauding the polices and institutional reforms ushered in by the Centre under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Scindia was addressing the YEF Bharat Summit 2025' organised by the Young Entrepreneurs Forum Bharat here. He said, India was once known as the golden bird. About 2,000 years ago, India's share in the world's gross domestic product (GDP) was 20 per cent. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India will move forward with this vision and emerge as a star on the global stage. India's economy has leapt from the 10th position 12 years ago to fourth, leaving behind Japan, he said. By the end of 2027, we will surpass Germany to become the world's third-largest economy, asserted the minister. In the race for economic development, India has already surpassed the country that tried to rule it for 200 years, h

Telecom exports up 72% since FY21, imports steady at ₹51,000 cr: Scindia

Scindia said telecom exports rose from Rs 10,000 crore in FY21 to Rs 18,406 crore in FY25 while imports stayed around Rs 51,000 crore, as satcom licensees complete compliance for security approvals

My goal is to ensure every dark spot in India is lit up by satcom: Scindia

Scindia was replying to a question on the government stand on spectrum charges that Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) should pay for its global satellite phone service (GSPS)

Scindia, Starlink V-P Dreyer discuss ways to speed up digital inclusion

Starlink executive Lauren Dreyer met Jyotiraditya Scindia after a website glitch briefly displayed India pricing; talks focused on satcom-led last-mile connectivity as Starlink awaits approvals

Govt to undertake India Post's business process reengineering: Scindia

The government is undertaking a business process reengineering exercise for India Post to make it more digital oriented with improved service delivery, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Wednesday. Currently, 1.64 lakh post offices are spread across the country and the Modi government has worked to expand the postal network in the last 11 years, Scindia said during Question Hour in Lok Sabha. "We are in the process of bringing a full business process reengineering exercise for India Post by which our delivery will become much more prompt, service oriented and digital oriented for the citizens," Scindia said. As part of the process, the postal department will have best in class automation, which will make India Post the top logistics carrier in the world, the minister said.

Projects worth ₹5,700 cr sanctioned for northeast under PM-DevINE: Scindia

As many as 44 projects worth about Rs 5,700 crore have been sanctioned under the Prime Minister's Development Initiative for the North East Region, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has said, adding that the ministry was set to utilise the scheme outlay. Chairing a meeting of the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region on Wednesday, the minister said the Modi government is committed to ensuring rapid, transparent, and outcome-oriented development in the region, with the Prime Minister's Development Initiative for the North East Region (PM-DevINE) serving as a key catalyst for infrastructure and socio-economic transformation. Scindia, the Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region, termed the initiative the "most important scheme of the ministry" and said it was conceptualised in the Union Budget 2022-2023, according to an official release. He said the scheme has a total outlay of Rs 6,600 crore for the period 2022-2023 to 2025-2026

Sanchar Saathi decoded: Why the gov wants it installed on your phone

DoT's directive requires the app to be visible and functional on first use, even as the minister stresses that activation remains optional.

Govt open to revising Sanchar Saathi preload order on feedback: Scindia

Telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia told Lok Sabha the Centre is open to changing DoT's Sanchar Saathi preloading directive based on feedback, as privacy concerns and OEM pushback grow

Snooping will never happen with Sanchar Saathi app, says Scindia in LS

Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Wednesday said snooping is neither possible nor will it happen with the Sanchar Saathi safety app, amid a row over his ministry's order asking smartphone makers to preload the state-run cybersecurity app on all new devices. In Lok Sabha, Scindia said the app is for the protection of the people. Sanchar Saathi app se "na snooping sambhav hai, na snooping hoga", the minister said during Question Hour. In the context of the discussions about the app, the minister also said the government want to give power in the hands of the people to help them protect themselves. The ministry's order dated November 28, mandates all mobile phone manufacturers to pre-install Sanchar Saathi app in all handsets to be sold in India as well as in existing devices through software update. It mandates mobile phone companies to ensure that the pre-installed Sanchar Saathi application is readily visible and accessible to the end users at the time of first use o

Sanchar Saathi app can be deleted, says govt; OEMs still reluctant

Apple, other global device makers not on board; India's Lava to comply

'Sanchar Saathi is optional, user can delete it': Govt issues clarification

Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia clarified that Sanchar Saathi is optional, following uproar over the government mandate asking phone makers to pre-install the app to help curb cyber fraud

BSNL Q2 revenue at Rs 5,347 cr; achieves 93 pc of quarterly target: Scindia

State-owned telecom firm BSNL has achieved 93 per cent of its target revenue for the September quarter of FY26, reaching Rs 5,347 crore, Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Thursday. The minister has asked BSNL to follow stricter parameters to monitor the quality of services on a daily basis, instead of weeks and months, and tighter deadlines of hours and days to complete pending projects. After the quarterly review of BSNL, the minister said the company's revenue for the first half of the current fiscal stood at Rs 11,134 crore. "This quarter, we have achieved a 93 per cent revenue run rate vis-a-vis our target. So, we had set a target of Rs 5,740 crore, and we've achieved Rs 5,347 crore. So, we are very close to a rather bold target that we had set for ourselves based on last year's jump in earnings," Scindia said. The minister said there is a target to increase BSNL's revenue by 20 per cent for the full fiscal year to Rs 27,500 crore. "Our ARPU has also increase

BSNL achieves 93% of revenue target in September quarter, says Scindia

State-owned telecom firm BSNL achieved 93 per cent of its target revenue at Rs 5,347 crore for September quarter FY26, Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Thursday. After the quarterly review of BSNL, the minister said the company's revenue for the first half of current fiscal stood at Rs 11,134 crore. "This quarter we have achieved a 93 per cent revenue run rate vis-a-vis our target. So we had set a target of Rs 5,740 crore, we've achieved Rs 5,347 crore. So, we are very close to a rather bold target that we had set for ourselves based on last year's jump in earnings," Scindia said. The minister said there is a target to increase BSNL's revenue by 20 per cent for full fiscal year to Rs 27,500 crore. "Our ARPU is also increased. It was Rs 81 in Q1 of this year, it's increased to Rs 91 in Q2 of this year. So there's been a 12 per cent improvement in ARPU," the minister said. Average revenue per user (ARPU) is a key metrics to measure growth of a telecom operator. T

Govt to study SC order before taking call on Vi dues: Jyotiraditya Scindia

"We will need to study the order to understand its implications and will wait for Vodafone Idea to apply for seeking relief," Scindia said on the sidelines of a briefing on the Department of Posts

Indian telecom among top 3 globally, govt working to improve: Scindia

Indian telecom services are among the top three globally and efforts are on to further improve them, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Friday. He said that more stringent norms for monitoring quality of service at cell level has been put in place from October 1. "It will not be an exaggeration to say that Indian telecom services are among top 3 nations and our efforts are on to improve them further," the minister said. Telecom regulator Trai has implemented norms that were used to measure quality of services at circle level to cell level. The minister said that telecom operators have submitted first report based on new norms and discussions are on to resolve issues where their quality of service is not as per the benchmark.

India Post to launch 24, 48-hour guaranteed mail, parcel delivery timelines

Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday said India Post will roll out a guarantee-based service of mails and parcels with delivery timelines of 24 hours and 48 hours. The minster said that 24 hours and 48 hours mail delivery and next-day parcel delivery will start from January onwards. "We are going to launch new products with guaranteed delivery of mails and parcels. There will be 24-hour Speed Post service which will ensure delivery of mails within 24 hours. Similarly, there will be a 48-hour Speed Post for delivery within 48 hours," Scindia said. These services will be launched in January, he added. He said that there will be similar services for next-day delivery of parcels which will ensure that the parcel gets delivered next day from around 3-5 days at present. The minister said that the government aims to transformer India Post from a 'cost centre' to a 'profit centre' by 2029.

Govt unlikely to up Vi stake beyond 49%, says Jyotiraditya Scindia

The telecommunications sector, which currently accounts for 12-14 per cent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), will grow to about 20 per cent over the next decade, the Union minister said