N
Common Ground News

Will BSNL shut down?

Author

David Ramirez

Updated on March 08, 2026

Will BSNL shut down?

New Delhi: There is no plan to shut down state-run telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd, Telecom secretary Anshu Prakash said on Friday. “News reports emerging of government thinking of shutting down the operator are not true," Prakash said at the sidelines of an event here.

Keeping this in consideration, why is BSNL closing?

State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) is close to achieving its voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) target, with as many as 75,000 employees opting for the scheme within a week. The company is expected to save about ₹7,500 crore by offering the scheme to 80,000 employees above 50 years of age.

One may also ask, what will happen to BSNL employees? According to the fine print of the BSNL VRS scheme, employees would get an ex-gratia amount equal to 35 days' salary for each completed year of service, and 25 days' salary for the years left until retirement. “I have only two years remaining for retirement.

One may also ask, will BSNL shut down Quora?

BSNL is not closing but it is making huge losses because of various reasons. Following are some of the key reasons of BSNL's current condition. Huge staff with higher salary: BSNL has around 167216 staff i.e. more than Vodafone and Airtel combined.

What is BSNL future?

As on day ( May 2019) LS elections yet to complete. Future of BSNL and its employees depends upon what decision the new govt will take. Either it may leave as it is to die naturally or some revival plans like reducing retirement age to 58 years and VRS package, which will reduce its staff in turn salary expenditure.

Is BSNL sold?

India said on Wednesday it plans to spend nearly $6 billion to revive loss-making state-funded telecom operators Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL). MTNL, which is a listed company, will become a subsidiary of BSNL until the merger is completed, Prasad told journalists.

What's wrong with BSNL?

What's wrong with BSNL? BSNL is in extreme financial trouble. The company has been in this situation for a while and the condition has worsened to an extent that it is not able to pay salaries to its employees.

Is BSNL improving?

Yes the improvement is slow. Yes there is network issue with BSNL, but before that let me tell you one thing this is all because of the government policies. The government has not alloted funds for it either. This could have improved the network far better than any private Network in India.

Is BSNL making profit?

BSNL has also seen a dip in its revenue after the entry of Reliance Jio in the market in 2016. The company's revenue is pegged at around Rs 19,308 crore for 2018-19, compared with Rs 25,071 crore in 2017-18 and Rs 31,533 crore in 2016-17.

Does BSNL employees get pension?

Under the BSNL Voluntary Retirement Scheme 2019, employees aged 50 years or above are eligible to opt for retirement. Meanwhile, employees aged 50 years opting for the scheme are likely to get a Rs 90 lakh retirement package, assuming that they are earning around Rs 75,000.

Does BSNL have 4g spectrum?

The 4G spectrum is one of the items, and its cost is another item, on which the government is working upon. The staff cost in MTNL and BSNL can be reduced. We all know that BSNL's employee cost is 75% of the revenue.

What is the present financial position of BSNL?

The brokerage estimates “BSNL's current annual cash-loss run rate is in excess of $1 billion,” a scenario that has seen the telco “moving from a peak cash position of Rs 37,200 crore at the end of FY2008 to a net debt position of Rs 8,600 crore at the end of FY18”.

How can I surrender my BSNL phone?

You need to do the following:
  1. Fill the BSNL Closure Form.
  2. Fill the Bank Details Form for a deposit refund.
  3. Attach latest Paid Receipt (of your last bill).
  4. Attach a self-signed copy of a Photo Id (Passport/ Driving License/ etc.)
  5. Carry the instrument for a refund (modem provided while getting the connection) [optional].

Is BSNL jobs in danger?

BSNL's dues - to the tune of Rs 20,000 crore - have put jobs in homegrown firms at risk. Nearly 100,000 jobs in the domestic telecom sector are at risk following continued non-clearance of outstanding worth Rs 20,000 crore from the state-controlled telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL).

Is BSNL a listed company?

BSNL is a fully owned Government PSU and therefore not listed.

What do you think were the primary reasons for the shutdown of BSNL?

“Low tariffs due to fierce competition in the mobile segment, high staff cost and absence of 4G services (except in few places) in the data-centric telecom market are the main reasons for losses of BSNL,” Prasad said.

How much pension do BSNL employees get?

Rs 17,169 crores will be allotted as ex gratia for the retirees. Rs 12,678 crores will be disbursed as pension allotment. The amount of ex-gratia for any eligible employee will be equal to 35 days' salary for each completed year of service and 25 days' salary for every year of service left until superannuation.

What is the VRS package for BSNL employees?

Nearly one lakh BSNL employees are eligible for the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) out of its total staff strength of about 1.50 lakh. The effective date of voluntary retirement under the present scheme is January 31, 2020.

What is the VRS scheme for BSNL employees?

The state-run telecom operator BSNL recently announced a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) for its employees. The scheme, known as BSNL Voluntary Retirement Scheme 2019, is part of the Rs 69,000-crore cabinet-approved revival package for the ailing BSNL and MTNL.

Will BSNL survive after VRS?

After VRS, retirements, BSNL expects 82,000 reduction in headcount. New Delhi: Nearly 92,700 employees of BSNL and MTNL have opted for voluntary retirement, which is expected to save about ₹8,800 crore annually in salary bills for the debt-laden telecom companies.

What is the benefit of VRS?

The voluntary retirement scheme(VRS) is the most humane technique to provide overall reduction in the existing strength of the employees. It is a technique used by companies for trimming the workforce employed in the industrial unit.

How many employees are there in BSNL?

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited
BSNL Headquarters, New Delhi
Total assets₹70,746.75 crore (US$9.9 billion) (FY 2019)
OwnerGovernment of India (100%)
Members121.47 million (31 December 2019)
Number of employees70,216 appx(2019)

Does MTNL have 4g?

Both Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) and BSNL do not have 4G spectrum, though BSNL is providing 4G services using high-end Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) in certain circles.

What is BSNL revival plan?

In order to revive loss-making telecom PSUs BSNL and MTNL, the government today decided to merge the two ailing firms as part of a revival package that includes raising sovereign bonds, monetising assets and voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) for employees.

What is the old name of BSNL?

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited

Is MTNL under central government?

Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited, d/b/a MTNL, is a state-owned telecommunications service provider and wholly owned subsidiary of BSNL headquartered in New Delhi, India. The Government of India currently holds 57% stock in the company with the rest being held by public and institutional investors.