As part of the 10-year celebration of the Digital India programme, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has announced a major AI training initiative. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw declared that 10 lakh citizens across the country will receive free AI training, with Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) receiving priority access. The announcement was made during the CSC Diwas celebration hosted at Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, New Delhi.
The Minister praised VLEs for their role in delivering digital services to the remotest corners of India, stating that CSCs have now reached nearly 90% of villages. He cited examples like VLE Manjulata from Mayurbhanj and VLE Rose Angelina from Meghalaya, both of whom have driven digital transformation in their communities. He also urged VLEs to begin offering IRCTC ticketing services and announced plans to integrate state-level IT agencies with the CSC network.
Growth of CSCs and grassroots innovation
Union Minister Jitin Prasada also addressed the gathering, highlighting the expansion of Common Service Centres (CSCs) from 83,000 in 2014 to over 5.5 lakh in 2025. With more than 74,000 women VLEs playing a key role in digital empowerment, CSCs have grown into one of the world’s largest digital service delivery ecosystems.
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He emphasized the importance of expanding CSC offerings into agriculture, education, and healthcare, recommending that VLEs be empowered to deliver Update Client Lite and other state government services. Both ministers echoed the importance of AI, cybersecurity awareness, and capacity building at the local level.
A decade of Digital India and inclusive governance
The CSC Diwas event marked a decade of achievements under the Digital India initiative launched in 2015. From Aadhaar and PAN services to banking, telemedicine, education, and legal aid, CSCs now offer a comprehensive range of government-to-citizen and business-to-citizen services. The Managing Director & CEO of CSC SPV, Sanjay Rakesh, reiterated that CSCs are helping bridge the digital divide, ensuring citizens don’t have to travel to urban centres to access essential services.
Celebrations were held nationwide between July 1 and 15, culminating in a two-day national gathering on July 15–16 in Delhi. Key participants included IT Secretaries, top-performing VLEs, and other public and private stakeholders. Sessions covered rural empowerment, public service delivery, and the future of e-governance.