The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has revealed a shocking financial blunder—BSNL “failed” to bill Jio for 10 years, leading to a loss of ₹1,757 crore to the Union government. But here’s the real question: How does a company “forget” to send a bill for an entire decade?
BSNL, a state-owned telecom firm already struggling under financial constraints, conveniently overlooked billing India’s telecom behemoth, Reliance Jio, since May 2014. That’s not a one-time clerical error—that’s a systematic and deliberate lapse that benefitted one of the richest companies in the country.
BSNL’s ‘Incompetence’ or a Planned Giveaway?
The CAG report phrases it mildly: BSNL’s “failure” to bill Jio. But let’s be real—this wasn’t an accidental oversight. Can a company repeatedly miss billing one of its biggest clients for 10 long years? Or was it not allowed to bill in the first place?
The massive financial hit raises critical questions:
- Was this a policy loophole or a strategic gift to Jio?
- Who in the government and BSNL management knew about this and let it continue?
- Why was no corrective action taken despite BSNL’s ongoing financial struggles?
The timing also raises eyebrows. Jio disrupted the telecom market with its free services in 2016, crippling competitors like Vodafone-Idea and Airtel, and leading to the collapse of smaller telecom firms. Now, with this revelation, it appears Jio didn’t just undercut competitors with cheap tariffs—it was also using BSNL’s infrastructure without paying for it.
Government’s Role—Who Turned a Blind Eye?
BSNL, being a government-owned entity, is answerable to the Ministry of Communications. Yet, for an entire decade, neither the government nor BSNL’s top officials noticed that bills weren’t being sent?
The loss isn’t just BSNL’s problem—it’s taxpayer money that could have strengthened public telecom infrastructure. Instead, it ended up subsidizing Jio.
As expected, neither BSNL nor the government has issued a clear explanation on how this lapse continued for so long. Will there be an investigation? Will BSNL finally recover the dues? Or will this issue be quietly buried under bureaucratic silence?
BSNL’s Survival at Stake—While Jio Profits Soar
While BSNL struggles with outdated infrastructure, declining market share, and pending revival plans, Jio continues its meteoric rise—from launching 5G services to expanding into fintech and e-commerce.
Is it just coincidence that a financially drained BSNL fails to compete, while Jio enjoys unchecked dominance? Or is there a bigger political-business nexus at play?
Either way, one thing is clear—BSNL’s “billing failure” is India’s telecom scandal in the making