**Executive Summary**
The document is the answer to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha regarding the promotion of digital literacy among Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) through the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA). The scheme was launched in 2017 and concluded on March 31, 2024. Annexure-I provides state-wise status of the SC, ST, and OBCs under the scheme.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **PMGDISHA Scheme:**
* Launched in 2017 to ensure digital literacy.
* Concluded on March 31, 2024.
* One of the world's largest digital literacy initiatives.
* Over 6.39 Crore persons trained nationwide.
* Focused on empowering marginalized sections (SCs, STs, OBCs).
* **Common Service Centers (CSCs):**
* Around 5.87 lakh CSCs are active across the country.
* Approximately 2.98 lakh CSCs are in SC & ST dominated areas, including most backward districts.
* **Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs):**
* Training programs are conducted for VLEs to enhance capacity.
* 75,593 women VLEs manage CSCs across the country.
* **Measures to Address the Digital Divide:**
* **National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT):**
* Provides digital literacy courses.
* Trained 43 lakh+ candidates.
* Delivers training through 56 NIELIT Centres and 9000+ Accredited Training Partners/Facilitation Centres.
* **NIELIT Digital University (NDU) Platform:**
* Delivers online and blended skill-based industry-aligned courses.
* Includes built-in virtual labs.
* Provides anytime-anywhere access to National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF)-aligned courses.
* **E-services initiatives:**
* Citizens enabled to access e-services under initiatives like UMANG, My scheme, Digi-Locker, e-Hospital, and MyGov.
* **State/UT-wise Data (Annexure-I):**
* Lists the number of registered and trained SC/ST/OBC candidates under the PMGDISHA scheme for each State/UT.
* Chandigarh and Delhi are not covered by the scheme.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs)**
* **Impact:** Increased digital literacy and empowerment through access to digital skills and services.
* **Action Required:** Participate in training programs, utilize CSCs and e-services to improve their digital skills and knowledge.
**Stakeholder: Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs)**
* **Impact:** Opportunity to manage CSCs and deliver digital services to rural communities.
* **Action Required:** Participate in training programs, manage CSCs effectively, and deliver quality services.
**Stakeholder: Government of India**
* **Impact:** Successful implementation of the Digital India program and promotion of digital literacy among marginalized communities.
* **Action Required:** Continue to support and promote digital literacy initiatives.
**Stakeholder: NIELIT and Training Centers**
* **Impact:** Play a role in delivering digital literacy courses and training programs.
* **Action Required:** Continue to provide quality training and expand the reach of digital literacy programs.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA): A scheme launched in 2017 to ensure digital literacy among Scheduled Castes (SCs)/Scheduled Tribes (STs)/Other Backward Classes (OBCs) communities.
Digital India Programme: A government initiative to democratize technology, bridge the digital divide and empower citizens.
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology: The primary government body responsible for promotion of digital literacy and related initiatives.
Common Service Centres (CSCs): Active centers across the country that provide access to e-services and digital literacy initiatives.
National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT): An institute providing digital literacy courses and training through its centers.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 845
TO BE ANSWERED ON: 04.02.2026
PROMOTION OF DIGITAL LITERACY AMONG SC/ST/OBCS THROUGH PMGDISHA
845. THIRU D M KATHIR ANAND:
Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Union Government has taken to promote digital literacy among Scheduled Castes
(SCs)/Scheduled Tribes (STs)/Other Backward Classes (OBCs) communities through the Pradhan
Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) and if so, the details thereof, State-wise; (b)
the number of Common Service Centres (CSCs) established in SC/ST dominated areas and the most
backward Districts under the Digital India Programme;
(c) the number of SC/ST/OBC youth trained as Village Level Entrepreneurs and the percentage of
women Village Level Entrepreneurs managing the CSCs; and
(d) the various proactive measures adopted by the Government to address the digital divide in remote
rural and the most backward areas?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI JITIN PRASADA)
(a): The Digital India programme was launched by the Government of India in line with Hon’ble Prime
Minister’s vision to democratize technology, bridge the digital divide and empower citizens. Under the
programme, Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) was launched in 2017
to ensure digital literacy. The scheme concluded on 31st March 2024.
Key aspects of the scheme were:
• The Scheme was one of the world’s largest digital literacy initiatives.
• Over 6.39 Crore persons trained nationwide (against the target of 6 Crore).
• This scheme focused on empowering the marginalized sections of the society viz. Scheduled
Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
• The States/Union Territories (UTs)-wise status of the SC, ST, and OBCs under the scheme is
given at Annexure-I.
(b): As on date, around 5.87 lakh Common Service Centres (CSCs) are active across the country, out
of which nearly 2.98 lakh CSCs are established in SC & ST dominated areas including most backward
districts.
(c): Time to time physical and virtual training programmes are conducted for Village Level
Entrepreneurs (VLEs) to enhance capacity and service delivery capabilities. At present, 75,593 women
VLEs are managing CSCs across the country.(d): Various measures adopted by the Government to address the digital divide in remote rural and the
most backward areas include:
i. National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT):
• NIELIT provides digital literacy courses such as Awareness in Computer Concept (ACC),
Course on Computer Concepts (CCC) etc.
• NIELIT has trained 43 lakh+ candidates under various courses, including digital literacy and
cyber security awareness.
• Training is delivered through a wide network of 56 NIELIT Centres and 9000+ Accredited
Training Partners/Facilitation Centres.
•
ii. NIELIT Digital University (NDU) Platform:
• NIELIT Digital University (NDU) Platform has been launched by NIELIT.
• The platform delivers online and blended skill-based industry-aligned courses in emerging
technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity etc.
• The platform includes built-in virtual labs for hands-on learning in Semiconductor Design,
Cybersecurity, Cyber Forensics etc.
• Learners get anytime-anywhere access to National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF)-
aligned courses.
iii. In addition, citizens across the country have also been enabled to access e-services under various
initiatives, such as Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance (UMANG), My scheme,
Digi-Locker, e-Hospital and MyGov, etc.
******Annexure- I
States/UT’s-wise SC/ST/OBC candidates under the PMGDISHA Scheme
Sl. State Name Scheduled Castes Scheduled Tribes Other Backward
No. (SCs) (STs) Classes (OBCs)
Regist-ered TrainedR egist-ered Trained Regist-ered Trained
1 Andaman and Nicobar 7 4 67 13 1820 986
Islands
2 Andhra Pradesh 376544 309130 77046 60599 943217 791517
3 Arunachal Pradesh 674 585 2745 1155 4504 4050
4 Assam 218302 191482 271411 228534 530743 443416
5 Bihar 1771584 1618054 350706 319378 3937338 3514243
6 Chhattisgarh 327966 283506 749997 641970 1133348 976727
7 Dadra & Nagar Haveli 1338 1212 3641 2645 3402 2853
and Daman & Diu
8 Goa 12104 11433 4531 4260 26502 24526
9 Gujarat 203446 178689 511541 448410 1239069 1097551
10 Haryana 488438 415147 7359 6686 589919 498170
11 Himachal Pradesh 137912 107752 29140 23211 188151 164189
12 Jammu And Kashmir 110792 97116 42493 32495 154936 137841
13 Jharkhand 326877 274891 550371 445964 1258141 1049962
14 Karnataka 393103 316845 205798 165996 930833 764775
15 Kerala 21607 14835 3373 2141 89757 59691
16 Ladakh 2101 1806 2117 1257 2225 1548
17 Lakshadweep 0 0 126 30 4 1
18 Madhya Pradesh 1010108 902186 1006949 896544 2545856 2264034
19 Maharashtra 671086 577613 661127 583480 1984467 1730679
20 Manipur 1122 655 8936 6407 7842 5234
21 Meghalaya 1959 1578 108527 70987 1998 1611
22 Mizoram 1825 1628 17779 13070 5771 5074
23 Nagaland 342 180 6824 4830 691 562
24 Odisha 585879 499735 662786 553919 1031492 876457
25 Puducherry 4246 2821 111 99 9665 6739
26 Punjab 741719 650287 8152 7192 340109 298850
27 Rajasthan 853118 741997 671851 610585 2013329 1766597
28 Sikkim 5479 4855 1470 1166 10474 8880
29 Tamil Nadu 258579 202678 9815 6832 566697 462118
30 Telangana 252959 207958 185836 157354 680524 568820
31 Tripura 66907 55764 82301 65174 70819 57641
32 Uttar Pradesh 3932033 3524104 145697 128563 8376570 7467255
33 Uttarakhand 164142 141172 21111 18045 301410 26805034 West Bengal 501392 415468 135650 114174 315129 263746
Grand Total 1,34,45,6901 ,17,53,1666 5,47,384 56,23,1652 ,92,96,7522 ,55,84,393
*Chandigarh and Delhi are in urban agglomeration, hence not covered under the scheme.
*******