CG Free Smartphone Scheme 2026 - Sanchar Kranti Yojana (SKY) Status, Guidelines & Eligibility

CG Sanchar Kranti Yojana Application Form PDF at chips.gov.in: Chhattisgarh Sanchar Kranti Yojana (SKY) or CG free smartphone scheme was a major scheme taken by Chhattisgarh government to improve mobile penetration in the state. The CG free smartphone distribution scheme was meant to give a mobile phone to each rural household through PDS and bring them into the mainstream. The revenue potential from the phone connections was expected to make telecom service providers add network at their own cost.

Scheme has been closed or it was a one time scheme which has been closed by the government.

Latest Update: Chhattisgarh Free Smartphone Scheme has been closed, the current state government is not distributing any smartphone under any scheme in the state.

Chhattisgarh Free Smartphone Scheme 2026

President Ram Nath Kovind had launched Chhattisgarh Free Smartphone Distribution Scheme Phase 1 back in the year 2018. Under CG Sanchar Kranti Yojana, the government started distribution of free smartphones to around 50.15 lakh people in Phase 1 while 5.89 lakh additional eligible people were covered in phase 2.

Marking the official launch of CG Free Smartphone Scheme, the Indian President gave phones to 2 women beneficiaries and 1 college student. Chhattisgarh SKY Scheme 1st Phase covered 46.14 lakh rural and urban poor households and 4.01 lakh college students while 2nd phase included 5.89 lakh eligible people.

Guidelines PDF: Sanchar Kranti Yojana Guidelines PDF

Also Read: Chhattisgarh Voter List

Objectives of CG Free Smartphone Scheme

The main aims of CG Free Smartphone Scheme were as follows:-

• Bring several unconnected areas of the state under mobile connectivity.
• Increase economic activity in the state through use of smart phones.
• Help women by enabling them to have mobile connectivity.
• Reduce the digital divide by connecting all and providing a digital identity.
• Carry out large scale DBT payment to the eligible people of government schemes through Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and smartphone.
• Financial inclusion through digital payments and access.
• Deliver services through Common Service Centers (CSCs).
• Increase financial and social inclusion and provide anywhere, anytime banking through smartphones.
• Use smartphone as a tool for participation in governance, access to government and private services.

CG Sanchar Kranti Yojana was specifically designed to reduce the digital divide and to increase mobile connectivity which stood at 29% in rural areas as per SECC 2011 data. Around 13,900 villages were covered under Chhattisgarh Sanchar Kranti Yojana (CG SKY). Chhattisgarh Free Smartphone Scheme was expected to help various development activities reach a better level in the region and state.

Salient Features of CG Free Smartphone Distribution Scheme

Some of the main features of the CG free smartphone distribution scheme are given below:-

• Commit 50 lakh connections to telecom.
• Negotiate good call rates, get commitment on tower installations.
• Procure phones from a reputed smartphone brand. Decent smartphones were available at cost as low as Rs 2000. Distribute the mobile phone at Gram Panchayat, urban ward and college level. Smartphones were to be distributed to the woman head of each rural household covered under SECC/ NPR. All connected villages and villages having more than 1,000 population were to be covered under the scheme. Woman head of all urban households covered under BPL List 2007 were to be distributed smartphones in urban areas.
• All college going students in the state including undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma and certificate students were entitled to get a smartphone. Students were to be given category II phones which had higher specifications in comparison to category I phone which was proposed to be given to the rural and urban households.
• The phone number of the beneficiary could be pre-allocated. It could get linked to Aadhaar and Bank Account. So the beneficiary could not sell the phone connection.
• 1 GB per month free data for 12 months and 100 free local/ STD calling minutes valid for one year were to be provided to the eligible people. Sell talktime (paid by the citizens) through the PDS/CSC at discounted (negotiated) rates.

Also read: Chhattisgarh Mukhyamantri Vriksh Sampada Yojana

CG Sanchar Kranti Yojana Beneficiaries

CG Sanchar Kranti Yojana was to be implemented in two phases and would be based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria for CG Free Smartphone distribution scheme included rural poor, urban poor and college youth. Exclusion criteria included Urban APL households. In 1st phase, urban and rural households were to get 46.14 lakh smartphones while 4.01 lakh college students would get added to this number totalling it to 50.15 lakh smartphones. In 2nd phase of CG Sanchar Kranti Yojana, the government would distribute free of cost smartphones to 5.89 lakh eligible people. The breakup of smartphone distribution across two phases is:-

Chhattisgarh Sanchar Kranti Yojana (SKY) Benefits

The main aims of the Chhattisgarh Sanchar Kranti Yojana were to achieve a three fold impact including individual, Government and Society.

The aim of this scheme was to provide free smartphones for the poor citizens and increase the mobile connectivity in the state. The government planned to distribute smartphones in two phases under "Sanchar Kranti Yojana". The Chief Secretary-led committee was constituted by the state government for the effective rollout of Sanchar Kranti scheme in the state. As per the provision, the service providers could install the towers on the government building for free. This service would be expandable, but the cost of service would be paid by the company.

Impact of Sanchar Kranti Yojana (SKY)

The scheme was expected to bring the following benefits to the state:-

• Economic growth
• Big change in LWE affected areas
• Financial inclusion of rural population
• DBT payment through JAM
• Finding employment opportunities
• Mobile banking
• Access to government and private services
• Disaster management
• Mobile phone, SIM card, data transfer, mobile repair shops opening
• Help for women

Smartphone Specifications - CG Sanchar Kranti Yojana

Each smartphone to be given to the eligible people of CG Sanchar Kranti Yojana would come up with the following specifications:-

In rural areas, the eligible people were to be selected by the Department of Panchayat and Rural Development. The eligible people in the urban areas were to be shortlisted by the Urban Development Department. This scheme was also to be implemented in colleges for the students by the Department of Higher Education.

Under Sanchar Kranti Yojana, the female members were also covered. After receiving free smartphones, these phones were to be connected to Aadhaar numbers and bank accounts of the beneficiary to check the misuse of this scheme. Also, the users could share their feedback on government policies and schemes using these smartphones. This scheme was meant to help the youths become digitally literate and remain updated about the state government schemes and policies.

For more details, download the CG Sanchar Kranti Yojana PDF - Sanchar Kranti Yojana Detailed Report PDF