Parliament Question: Candidates Trained under PMGDISHA

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4313 TO BE ANSWERED ON: 18.03.2026 CANDIDATES TRAINED UNDER PMGDISHA 4313. DR. SHARMILA SARKAR: Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state: (a) the details of total number of candidates trained under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) since scheme inception, year-wise; (b) the details of total number of candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC)/Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and women registered under PMGDISHA since scheme inception, year-wise data; and (c) the total number of candidates belonging to SC/ST, OBCs and women trained under PMGDISHA since scheme inception, year-wise? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA) (a) to (c): In line with Hon’ble Prime Minister's vision to democratize technology and empower citizens, the Government of India had launched the Digital India programme in July, 2015. The Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) was initiated to provide digital literacy to 6 crore rural households (one person per household) nationwide. Key highlights of the Scheme were: • 4.39 Lakh Common Service Centres helped in spreading the digital literacy across 2.52 Lakh Gram Panchayats in the country • Beneficiaries were trained to operate computers/digital access devices (like tablets, smartphones, etc.), send and receive emails, browse internet, access Government Services, search for information, undertake cashless transactions, etc. • 6.39 crore individuals were trained across the country. The Scheme concluded on 31.03.2024. The year-wise details of candidates trained under the scheme is given at Annexure-I. The year-wise details of candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and women registered and trained under the Scheme is given at Annexure-II.****** Annexure-I Year-wise training details under PMGDISHA Year Registered Candidates Trained Candidates 2016-17 1,99,224 1,42,087 2017-18 1,13,02,007 84,14,860 2018-19 97,92,341 85,42,173 2019-20 1,42,85,919 1,28,25,128 2020-21 1,08,78,397 96,95,717 2021-22 1,11,13,212 97,87,886 2022-23 1,01,45,209 92,12,931 2023-24 58,55,656 53,20,936 TOTAL 7,35,71,965 6,39,41,718 Annexure-II Year-wise training details of SC,ST, OBC & Women under PMGDISHA Financial Other Backward Women Scheduled Tribes Scheduled Castes Year Classes (OBCs) (ST) (SC) Registered Trained Registered Trained Registered Trained Registered Trained 2016 -17 88,619 63,738 83,345 61,052 21,533 14,428 35,793 25,804 2017-18 49,14,793 36,88,740 54,21,751 41,60,624 9,69,506 6,99,876 22,30,944 16,69,102 2018-19 40,16,836 35,34,207 52,97,544 46,65,271 9,95,815 8,59,641 18,50,042 16,26,152 2019-20 53,88,999 48,24,421 77,82,273 70,82,166 13,46,620 11,98,666 30,84,354 28,35,2022020-21 46,29,081 41,74,170 57,21,882 51,92,596 9,54,218 8,38,985 20,09,349 18,00,267 2021-22 44,27,544 39,50,785 63,25,027 56,61,155 9,66,727 8,36,997 19,23,694 17,00,983 2022-23 40,22,542 36,91,369 63,15,057 57,93,680 8,16,466 7,36,549 16,48,457 14,98,821 2023-24 20,85,680 19,14,234 40,33,891 36,73,582 5,26,977 4,85,450 7,79,351 7,05,589 *******