Showcasing digital empowerment, the Common Service Centre e-Governance Services India Limited (CSC SPV), operating under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), celebrated a decade of the Digital India initiative at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, Dwarka, New Delhi.
The celebration, marked by the presence of Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Jitin Prasada, featured major announcements, including the rollout of free Artificial Intelligence (AI) training for 10 lakh citizens, with special focus on Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs), signalling a bold new chapter in India’s digital transformation.
Digital Empowerment at the Grassroots
The CSC network, a flagship component of Digital India, has seen phenomenal growth from 83,000 centres in 2014 to over 5.5 lakh today. These centres, run by local VLEs, deliver a wide range of Government-to-Citizen (G2C) and Business-to-Citizen (B2C) services to remote and rural populations, enabling last-mile connectivity to essential services.
Chief Guest Ashwini Vaishnaw praised the dedication of VLEs and their role in making India’s digital dream a reality. “When the world doubted whether a tea seller or a vegetable vendor could use digital payments, India proved them wrong. Today, UPI payments have outpaced Visa transactions,” he noted, highlighting India’s digital leap.
85,000 से अधिक ग्रामीण entrepreneur बहनें पिछले 10 वर्षों में digital सुविधाएं जन-जन तक पहुँचाने में भागीदार बनीं। pic.twitter.com/hGRc6QJbUt
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) July 17, 2025
Free AI Training for 10 Lakh Citizens
Announcing a landmark decision, Vaishnaw declared that 10 lakh Indians would be offered free AI training, with VLEs receiving top priority. This initiative aligns with the government’s vision to integrate cutting-edge technologies like AI into everyday rural life, equipping citizens with the tools of the future.
The Minister also urged VLEs to begin offering IRCTC services to widen their portfolio and income streams, and promised to initiate discussions with state governments to integrate their IT agencies with CSC SPV to create a unified digital delivery ecosystem.
Inspiring Stories of Change
Highlighting the transformational power of CSCs, Vaishnaw shared the journeys of VLE Manjulata from Mayurbhanj, Odisha, and VLE Rose Angelina from East West Khasi Hills, Meghalaya. Despite geographical and societal hurdles, these women have emerged as digital champions in their regions, delivering services and training to their communities.
“In remote corners like Mairang in Meghalaya, Rose Angelina has led a digital revolution. Her work exemplifies the potential of women-led change in our nation’s tech revolution,” he said.
Massive Expansion and Women Empowerment
Union Minister of State Jitin Prasada also addressed the gathering and highlighted how CSCs are instrumental in bridging the urban-rural digital divide. “Ten years ago, we had 83,000 CSCs; today, we stand at 5.5 lakh. This reflects the scale of transformation initiated by the Digital India programme,” he stated.
Prasada emphasised integrating Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACS) with CSCs, a move aimed at enhancing rural credit access and agrarian support. He applauded the contributions of over 74,000 women VLEs, acknowledging their leadership in community development.
Call for Capacity Building and Cybersecurity Awareness
Recognising the challenges posed by rapid technological growth, Prasada advocated for improved capacity building in sectors such as health, education, and agriculture. He emphasised the need for heightened cybersecurity awareness and recommended that VLEs be allowed to deliver Update Client Lite and state-level services to boost their income and reach.
A Decade of Digital India: From Vision to Reality
Welcoming dignitaries, Sanjay Rakesh, Managing Director & CEO of CSC SPV, reiterated CSC’s pivotal role in reshaping access to public services. “There is no longer a need to travel to cities for government services. Through CSCs, we are delivering services at people’s doorsteps in the remotest parts of the country,” he stated.
Rakesh lauded CSC as a model of digital inclusion and empowerment, affirming commitment to the Prime Minister’s vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vishwas.” He credited the success of the past decade to the unwavering dedication of VLEs and the strong policy framework of the Digital India initiative.
CSC Diwas Celebrations Across India
CSC Diwas was celebrated with enthusiasm nationwide. In Delhi, the central celebration spanned two days (July 15–16), beginning with a high-level conclave of IT Secretaries from all states at Bharat Mandapam. Deliberations focused on rural empowerment, next-gen e-governance models, and strengthening the CSC network.
Across India, between July 1 and 15, CSCs engaged in community-driven celebrations. Public participation was high, and the government felicitated top-performing VLEs for their exceptional contributions to digital inclusion and service delivery.
CSC SPV: The Engine Behind Digital India’s Last-Mile Revolution
Established in 2009, CSC SPV has emerged as one of the world’s largest digital service ecosystems. Operating under MeitY, it manages over 5.5 lakh centres across India, each operated by a trained VLE.
These centres provide vital services including:
- Aadhaar enrollment and updates
- PAN and passport applications
- Banking, pensions, and insurance
- Digital literacy and telemedicine
- Online education and legal services through Tele-Law
- Agriculture advisory and utility payments
- Grameen eStore (B2B)
CSCs as Hubs of AI-led Development
With the new AI training initiative, CSCs are poised to become local innovation hubs. This will not only boost employment and skill development but also ensure rural populations are not left behind in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
India’s digital revolution, driven by policies, people, and platforms like CSC SPV, showcases the transformative power of inclusive technology. As the nation marches towards its tech-powered future, the role of VLEs and CSCs in building an Atmanirbhar Bharat continues to expand, paving the way for a digitally empowered society.
