Bharat 6G Alliance and Spectrum Roadmap

6G is the sixth generation of mobile networks. It will follow 5G. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) calls it IMT-2030. Its plan is set out in ITU-R recommendation M.2160.

How is it better than 5G?

• It gives higher data speeds and lower delay.
• It joins communication and sensing in one network.
• It covers land and sky through terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks.
• It is built with AI inside the network.

What is the memory hook?

Think “IMT-2030, M.2160”. The name has the year in it.

The government released the Bharat 6G Vision document on 22 March 2023. It aims to make India a global leader in 6G by 2030.

What does the vision stand on?

• Three principles: affordability, sustainability and ubiquity.
• The goal is ubiquitous, intelligent and secure connectivity.
• A ministry projection: 6G could add about USD 1.2 trillion to India’s GDP by 2035.
• A target: 10% of global 6G patents.

What is the memory hook?

Think “22 March 2023, lead by 2030”.

The Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA) is an industry-led body. The government helped set it up. It brings together companies, academia, research bodies and standards groups.

What should I remember about it?

• As of July 2025, it had more than 80 member organisations.
• More than 30 of them are startups.
• It has seven working groups, such as Spectrum, Technology, Applications and Green and Sustainability.
• It signed MoUs with global 6G alliances, including 6G IA of Europe and the 6G Flagship of Oulu University, Finland.
• In October 2025 it signed two more MoUs, with NASSCOM and the European Space Agency.

What is the memory hook?

Think “80+ members, 7 groups”.

Spectrum means the radio bands that carry mobile signals. Planning bands early helps India line up with global 6G plans.

Who published the roadmap?

• The Bharat 6G Alliance released a whitepaper titled “Spectrum Roadmap for 6G in India”.
• It was one of four whitepapers launched at the International 6G Symposium on 8 October 2025.
• The symposium was held during India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 in New Delhi.
• A joint declaration on 6G principles was also released on 10 October 2025.

What is the memory hook?

Think “4 whitepapers, 1 is spectrum”. The symposium was at IMC 2025.

The government pays for research and labs. It does not run the networks itself.

Which programmes matter?

• The Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) was launched on 1 October 2022.
• By 31 July 2025, 104 6G projects worth Rs 275.88 crore were approved.
• By 30 September 2025, 115 projects on 5G and 6G worth Rs 310.6 crore were approved.
• Two testbeds are funded: a 6G Terahertz testbed and an Advanced Optical Communication testbed.
• 100 5G labs were sanctioned at academic institutions in 2023-24.
• A Technology Innovation Hub at IIIT Bangalore works on RIS and O-RAN Massive MIMO.

What is the memory hook?

Think “TTDF = R&D money”. Count by date, because totals grow.

Visible light communication (VLC) sends data using light that people can see, such as LEDs. It is a short-range optical wireless method. UPSC asked about it in 2020.

What was the question?

The official key is option (c). Statement 2 is wrong because VLC is short-range. The IEEE standard puts the visible band at 380 to 780 nm. The UPSC statement says 375 nm, but the official key still counts statement 1 as correct. View the 2020 paper.

What is the memory hook?

Think “short range, no radio noise”.

Four traps appear often.

What are the traps?

• Vision or Alliance? The Vision is a document from March 2023. The Alliance is the industry body.
• Which count? 104 projects is the July 2025 figure. 115 is the September 2025 figure.
• Who released the roadmap? PIB lists it as a Bharat 6G Alliance whitepaper from October 2025.
• Funding or networks? TTDF funds R&D. It does not build 6G networks.

What is the memory hook?

Think “document, body, date, money”.