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India Celebrates a Decade of Digital Transformation: CSCs Lead the Way Forward
India marked 10 years of Digital India with grand celebrations, highlighting how Common Service Centres (CSCs) have empowered rural communities and bridged the digital divide. Key announcements include free AI training for VLEs and enhanced services.
New Delhi, India – India recently celebrated a remarkable milestone – a decade of the transformative Digital India initiative. At the heart of this success story are the Common Service Centres (CSCs), the grassroots digital outposts that have truly brought the dream of a digitally empowered nation to life.
The grand celebration, hosted by Common Service Centre e-Governance Services India Limited (CSC SPV) at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in Dwarka, New Delhi,yesterday, was a testament to India's incredible journey from a digitally divided nation to the world's third-largest digital economy.
Union Minister of Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, graced the event as the Chief Guest, applauding the tireless efforts of Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) – the local changemakers who operate the CSCs. "When the world questioned how a tea seller or a vegetable vendor could use digital payments, today that dream has come true - UPI payments have surpassed Visa transactions. This is the strength of 1.4 billion Indians," he declared, emphasizing the profound impact of digital adoption at every level of society.
Minister Vaishnaw highlighted that CSCs have now reached nearly 90% of India's villages, establishing themselves as the most effective medium for last-mile digital delivery. He shared inspiring tales of VLEs like Manjulata from Mayurbhanj and Rose Angelina from Meghalaya, who, despite challenging circumstances, have embraced digital skills to empower their communities. Rose Angelina, operating from the Mairang area in Meghalaya's East West Khasi Hills, was particularly lauded for scripting a digital revolution and setting an example of transformation and community service.
Looking ahead, Minister Vaishnaw made several pivotal announcements:
- Free AI training for 10 lakh individuals: All VLEs will receive priority in this massive skilling initiative, preparing them for the age of Artificial Intelligence.
- Urging VLEs to offer IRCTC services: Expanding the array of services available at CSCs to further convenience citizens.
- Commitment to integrate state IT agencies with CSC-SPV: A move aimed at streamlining and enhancing the delivery of government services.
Shri Jitin Prasada, Union Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology, underscored the critical role of CSCs in bridging the digital divide. He noted the phenomenal growth of CSCs, from just 83,000 centres in 2014 to nearly 5.5 lakh today. He also celebrated the significant contribution of over 74,000 women VLEs who are setting new benchmarks in empowerment, and emphasised the integration of Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACS) with CSCs.
"We are now in the era of Artificial Intelligence, and it is advancing rapidly. With time, we must use new technologies to bring positive change in people's lives and empower them," Minister Prasada remarked. He also stressed the importance of strengthening awareness, cybersecurity, and capacity building, particularly in agriculture, health, and education sectors, and recommended enabling VLEs to deliver 'Update Client Lite' and state government services to boost their income.
Shri Sanjay Rakesh, Managing Director & CEO, CSC SPV, proudly stated that CSCs have eliminated the need for citizens to travel to cities for government services. "CSC centres are providing G2C and B2B services at doorsteps in remote areas of the country, enabling digital empowerment," he affirmed. He expressed confidence that CSCs will continue to drive India towards new heights, embodying the Prime Minister's mantra of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vishwas" (With everyone, for everyone's trust).
Nationwide Celebrations Mark CSC Diwas
The celebrations weren't confined to Delhi. CSC Day was enthusiastically observed across the nation. In the capital, a two-day event on July 15th and 16th saw IT Secretaries from all states convening at Bharat Mandapam to deliberate on rural empowerment, the future of e-governance, and the pivotal role of CSCs. From July 1st to 15th, CSCs nationwide engaged in public participation activities, with top-performing VLEs being felicitated for their outstanding contributions to digital inclusion.
Digital India and CSC: A Decade of Transformation
Launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in 2015, the Digital India program aimed to make technology accessible to every Indian. Over the past decade (2015–2025), this initiative has successfully bridged the digital divide, transforming governance, fostering financial inclusion, and expanding internet accessibility, thereby propelling India to become the world's third-largest digital economy.
Established in 2009 under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), CSC SPV has blossomed into one of the world's largest digital service delivery ecosystems, boasting over 5.5 lakh operational centres. Each CSC, managed by a dedicated Village Level Entrepreneur (VLE), acts as a local changemaker, providing a comprehensive suite of citizen-centric services including:
- Aadhaar enrollment and updates
- PAN card and passport services
- Banking and insurance solutions
- Telemedicine and education services
- Skill development and legal aid through Tele-Law
- Agriculture services, Grameen eStore (B2B), utility bill payments, and much more.
The journey of Digital India, powered by the extensive network of CSCs, continues to redefine access, empower communities, and pave the way for an even more digitally inclusive and advanced future for India.
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