PM-WANI: QR Login and 15–60 Minute Wi-Fi Plans

PM-WANI public Wi-Fi gets QR login and short plans

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Battle Brief

DoT introduced PM-WANI reforms through Circulars 1/PM-WANI/2026 and 2/PM-WANI/2026 dated 22 May 2026: QR-based authentication for laptops and secondary devices, short Wi-Fi plans of 15, 30 and 60 minutes, and standardised hotspot SSIDs. Stakeholders must implement within eight weeks, so features should be live by July 2026.

Fact File

Circulars: 1/PM-WANI/2026 and 2/PM-WANI/2026; dated 22 May 2026
QR login: for laptops and secondary devices
Plans: 15, 30 and 60 minutes
SSIDs: standardised PM-WANI hotspot names
Deadline: eight weeks from circulars; by July 2026

In the news

PM-WANI reforms of May 2026: what happened?

Public Wi-Fi only helps if logging in is easy and you can buy a short session for a bus wait or a form download. These reforms tweak PM-WANI for exactly that.

All PM-WANI stakeholders must implement the revised guidelines within eight weeks.
Aim: easier access, interoperability and citizen adoption.

Back Story

What is PM-WANI?

Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface — DoT’s framework for public Wi-Fi through last-mile providers and aggregators.

Why examiners care

Why does PM-WANI reforms of May 2026 matter?

Digital public infrastructure: Cheaper, shorter public Wi-Fi sessions.
Inclusion: QR login helps secondary devices, not only phones.

Exam Radar

What can Prelims ask on PM-WANI reforms of May 2026?

PM-WANI May 2026 reforms: QR auth, 15/30/60-minute plans, standard SSIDs.
Circulars dated 22 May 2026; implement in eight weeks (by July 2026).

How to use this in Mains

GS-III Science and technology: IT, computers, robotics, indigenisation

As per PIB (2026-05-26): doT upgraded PM-WANI with QR-based laptop login, flexible short-duration plans and standard hotspot names.
Public Wi-Fi is the cheapest way to take the internet the last mile.

Quotable data point
DoT upgraded PM-WANI with QR-based laptop login, flexible short-duration plans and standard hotspot names.
PIB: DoT: PM-WANI upgrade, 26 May 2026

Practice MCQs

Original practice questions (not PYQs).

Practice · UPSC

PM-WANI's May 2026 reforms introduce short Wi-Fi plans of

Answer (b) & explanation

PIB (DoT), 26 May 2026.

Quick questions

Questions students ask about this

What new Wi-Fi plan lengths does PM-WANI allow?

15, 30 and 60 minutes.

When should the reforms go live?

Within eight weeks of the 22 May 2026 circulars, i.e. by July 2026.

What else changed?

QR-based authentication for laptops/secondary devices and standardised hotspot SSIDs.