WSIS Prize 2026

• The 'Samriddh Gram Integrated Phygital Services' project of India's Department of Telecommunications (DoT) won the Global Winner award in the 'Enabling Environment' category at the WSIS Prizes 2026, held in Geneva, Switzerland, on July 9, 2026.

• This honor represents significant international recognition of India's initiative to foster digital inclusion, ensure easy access to modern public services, and drive technology-led development in rural India.

• The project is based on a 'Phygital' model, which effectively delivers various government and digital services to rural citizens by linking physical service centers with the high-speed digital connectivity of BharatNet.

• BharatNet is the country's flagship broadband project that provides high-speed internet facilities to Gram Panchayats, enabling the extension of services to the 'last mile' through this network.

• Each 'Samriddhi Kendra' (prosperity center) established under the Samriddh Gram scheme is designed to provide integrated digital services to multiple villages located within a radius of approximately 5 kilometers.

• Currently, pilot centers for this project have been set up at Umri (Guna district, Madhya Pradesh), Narkoduru (Andhra Pradesh), and Chaurawala (Uttar Pradesh), where villagers are availing the benefits of various digital and government services under one roof.