Long-pending grievances; 3-week clock ticking: What changes Union govt expects to bring to BSNL?

India’s state-owned telecoms giant BSNL is apparently going for an urgent internal restructure as the government moves to tackle deep-seated staff grievances and outdated management frameworks.

Breaking the deadlock

The union government has formed a high-level committee to fix long-running human resource problems that have hampered Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL).

For years, staff have struggled with stalled promotions, delayed pay increases, and an inefficient organisational layout. While the company recently reported its first profits in nearly two decades, internal friction over career progression and the implementation of the third pay revision continues to simmer.

The reform roadmap

A new high-level committee, established by a memorandum on April 9, has been given just 21 days to submit a plan to fix BSNL’s deep-seated human resource failures. Under a tight three-week deadline, this new panel must redesign how BSNL manages its people.

Plans include a new performance system that links pay to results and a fresh strategy for finding and training talent. The government is also launching a "Strategy and Transformation Vertical."

This dedicated unit will use digital tools to track business goals and ensure that new staff policies are actually followed across the company’s vast operations.

Union fears and leadership gaps

However, the plan has already met resistance from worker groups. Employee unions warn that the committee is too top-heavy and lacks perspective from those on the front lines.

They argue that without a full-time board member who understands daily field operations, the reforms will remain disconnected from reality.

Adding to the uncertainty is the company’s leadership stability. The current chairman, A. Robert J. Ravi, has seen his temporary term extended five times since 2024.

While he has overseen a rise in subscribers and successful 4G rollouts, critics suggest these repeated short-term extensions highlight a broader governance struggle.

Questions for the future

The government must now prove it can turn policy into practice. Can a committee dominated by officials truly understand the struggles of field workers?

With the three-week clock ticking, the success of these reforms will determine if BSNL can finally modernise its workforce to compete with private rivals.