📌official source confirmed
The minutes of the PM’s Telecom Review Meeting (ref. U-1062/23/Telecom/2024-DMEO, dated 29.01.2026), officially released by NITI Aayog, clearly say that BSNL has too many employees and that steps must be taken to reduce the staff strength. This one line has put 52,000 BSNL employees on edge.
For the last two years, BSNL employees have been living with a scary question — will the government announce a BSNL second VRS 2026? Nobody was giving a straight answer. BSNL’s management said one thing, the Telecom Department said another. But now, the guessing game may be over — because a top-level government document has surfaced that says it all.
On 7th January 2026, the Prime Minister himself chaired a review meeting on the telecom sector. Big names were in the room — the Communications Minister, the Cabinet Secretary, senior NITI Aayog officials, and PMO staff. After the meeting, NITI Aayog officially sent out the minutes of this meeting. These minutes contain 15 action points. And Point No. 10 is the one that has worried every BSNL employee.
Also Read: BSNL Employees Feel Betrayed: Double Standards of Management Must Be Strongly Condemned
📋Official Document Extract
“It was observed that BSNL is a human resource heavy organization. Steps may be taken to repatriate all persons on deputation from other departments with BSNL. Further, assessment of all personnel may be carried out with regard to their suitability for the organization and efforts be made to reduce staff.”
—Point 10, Minutes of PM Sector Review Meeting, Telecom, 07.01.2026 | Responsible: DoT | Deadline: 31.10.2026
In plain words, the government is saying: BSNL has too many employees. Send back those who came on deputation from other departments. Check if the remaining staff are actually needed. And then — reduce the numbers. The Telecom Department has been given a deadline of 31st October 2026 to act on this.
“The Government is considering re-utilising this manpower in other establishments or downsizing the staff strength. This may create pressure on the BSNL Board to bring another VRS.”
This is what BSNLEU — the BSNL Employees Union — is saying in its note dated 6th March 2026. The union pointed out that the PM meeting minutes are now in the public domain and are the clearest sign yet that a second VRS is on the way. BSNL’s first VRS came in 2019. Back then, nearly 78,000 employees took voluntary retirement. Today, about 52,000 employees remain. The fear is that this remaining workforce is now the government’s next target.
The union also noted that rumours of a second VRS have been going around since 2024 and 2025, but BSNL management and the Telecom Department kept giving mixed signals. Now, with this official document from a PM-chaired meeting, there is no room left for denial.
What makes this even more striking is the contrast. The same meeting where the government praised BSNL’s homegrown 4G technology and talked about promoting Indian telecom abroad — in Africa and other countries — also said BSNL has too many people and needs to cut staff. On one hand, BSNL is being celebrated as a national success story. On the other hand, thousands of its employees may be shown the door.
How the government will reduce staff is not yet clear. It could be another VRS where employees choose to leave with a package. It could be sending deputationists back to their parent departments. Or it could be both. But the direction is clear — BSNL’s headcount must come down, and the deadline is less than eight months away.
DOCUMENT VERIFIED
BSNLEU is not sitting quietly. The union has already raised its voice and is expected to formally object and demand answers from the Telecom Department. In the coming weeks, protests and meetings are likely. The union wants to know — what exactly does “reduce staff” mean? Will it be forced? Will it be voluntary? What will the package be?
For now, around 52,000 BSNL employees across India are waiting and watching. The big question is simple: Is the second VRS already decided — and is the announcement just a matter of time?
📋 Key Facts
- PM chaired Telecom Review on 7 Jan 2026; minutes circulated by NITI Aayog on 29 Jan 2026
- BSNL currently has approx. 52,000 employees, down from ~1.76 lakh pre-VRS 2019
- First VRS (2019) saw ~78,000 employees exit; cost govt. ~₹17,000 cr
- DoT deadline to complete staff reduction assessment: 31 Oct 2026
- BSNLEU flagged concern on 6 Mar 2026, calling it imminent pressure on BSNL Board
🕐 Timeline
📍 2019
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited launches its first Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS).
Approximately 78,000 employees exit the company.
📍 2024–2025
Rumours of a second VRS begin circulating.
Mixed signals emerge from Department of Telecommunications (India) and BSNL management.
📍 7 Jan 2026
Narendra Modi chairs a Telecom Sector Review meeting.
Direction given for workforce reduction in telecom PSUs.
📍 29 Jan 2026
NITI Aayog circulates official meeting minutes through an Office Memorandum
📍 6 Mar 2026
BSNL Employees Union (BSNLEU) raises alarm and warns that a second VRS may be near.
📍 31 Oct 2026
Deadline set by the Department of Telecommunications (India) for submission of staff reduction assessment.
Click here to Download official Minutes PDF
👥 Key Attendees
Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia — Minister, Communications
Shri T.V. Somanathan — Cabinet Secretary
Dr. P.K. Mishra — Principal Secretary to PM
Dr. Amit Agrawal — Secretary, Telecom
Shri B.V.R. Subrahmanyam — CEO, NITI Aayog
We warmly welcome 2nd VRS,
OUR HEARTFUL THANKS TO SRI NARENDRA MODI JI – HONORABLE PM SIR. AND SRI JOTIR ADITYA SINDHIYA JI – HONOURABLE COMMUNICATION MINISTER. FOR VRS2.