On 9 July 2026 the Department of Telecommunications’ “Samriddh Gram: Integrated Phygital Service Delivery Model Enabled by BharatNet” was declared Global Winner of the WSIS Prizes 2026 under Action Line C6 at the WSIS Forum in Geneva.
Model and delivery
- Phygital model: Integrated delivery combining physical village-level Samriddhi Kendras with digital services over BharatNet.
- Samriddhi Kendras: Local access points for assisted service delivery and last-mile engagement in Gram Panchayats.
- Enabling network: Model is implemented over the BharatNet rural fibre backbone.
Services & technologies
- Healthcare: Tele-healthcare and Health ATMs for diagnostics and remote consultation.
- Education: Digital learning using AR/VR and remote pedagogy tools.
- Agriculture & livelihoods: IoT sensors, drone applications and advisory services for farmers.
- Other services: Financial inclusion, skilling, e‑governance, e‑commerce and PM Jan Aushadhi linkage.
Scale & institutional facts
- BharatNet reach: Over 2.17 lakh Gram Panchayats service-ready and online as of 9 July 2026.
- Implementing institutions: Programme led by the Department of Telecommunications; Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) as the SPV; funded via Universal Service Obligation Fund mechanisms.
Recognition
- WSIS Prizes 2026: Global Winner under Action Line C6 — Enabling Environment; adjudicated at WSIS Forum, Geneva (6–10 July 2026).
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- WSIS Action Line C6: Focuses on policies and regulatory frameworks that enable ICT uptake.
- SDG linkages: Maps to SDG 3 (health), SDG 4 (education), SDG 8 (livelihoods), SDG 9 (innovation) and SDG 10 (reduced inequalities).
- Phygital term: Portmanteau denoting hybrid physical + digital service delivery at community level.