**Executive Summary**
This document is the response to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha regarding the promotion of information technology to connect village-level entrepreneurs across India. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology outlines various initiatives under the Digital India programme. The document provides details on these initiatives and their impact on citizens, with key information updated as of January 31, 2026, and targets for BharatNet completion by December 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Digital India Programme:** The Government is promoting the use of Information Technology to digitally connect village-level entrepreneurs through various initiatives.
* **Common Service Centres (CSCs):**
* Over 5 lakh CSCs operated by Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) provide digital services.
* These services include banking, insurance, telemedicine, education, and government services.
* State and district-wise details are available on the website https://csc.gov.in/.
* **BharatNet:**
* Aims to provide high-speed broadband connectivity to Gram Panchayats.
* Enables digital service delivery and entrepreneurship at the village level.
* 2,14,904 Gram Panchayats (GPs) have been made service-ready as of December 2025.
* **Digital Platforms and e-Marketplaces:**
* Initiatives like GeM, ONDC, and state e-governance platforms enable rural entrepreneurs to access wider markets.
* **Skill Development and Capacity Building:**
* Programmes under PMGDISHA, Skill India, and CSC Academy focus on digital literacy, IT skills, and entrepreneurship.
* **Support for Startups and MSMEs:**
* Schemes like Startup India, Digital MSME, and promotion of fintech and agritech solutions facilitate technology adoption.
* **CSC e-Governance Services India Limited:**
* Regularly coordinates with State IT Departments for integration of state e-District services.
* Aims to strengthen state government service delivery and the income of VLEs.
* 16 States/UTs have integrated their e-services with the CSCs as of 31.01.2026.
* **Technology-Driven Solutions:** The Government of India has implemented various technology-driven solutions to improve citizens' lives.
* **Aadhaar and UPI:**
* Aadhaar provides a universal digital identity to over 143 crore residents.
* UPI has transformed digital payments.
* **DigiLocker and UMANG:**
* Offer anytime access to documents and over 2,390 government services.
* **Digital Initiatives:**
* DIKSHA, GeM, e-Courts, e-Office, and CoWIN have strengthened education, procurement, governance, and public health systems.
* **Health-Focused Platforms:**
* eSanjeevani, e-Hospital, and Aarogya Setu have expanded healthcare access nationwide.
* **Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT):**
* Delivers welfare payments directly, removing fake beneficiaries.
* Over Rs. 48 lakh crore has been transferred through DBT.
* **National Scholarship Portal (NSP):**
* Enables Ministries/Departments and States/UTs to process applications and disburse scholarships directly.
* NSP serves over 7.47 Crore beneficiaries, with a total disbursement exceeding Rs. 44,181 Crore.
* 153 schemes are onboarded on NSP.
* **Other Initiatives:**
* CSCs, PMGDISHA, FutureSkills PRIME, MyGov, Jeevan Pramaan, and Poshan Tracker promote inclusion, transparency, digital literacy, citizen engagement, and last-mile service delivery.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs)**
* **Impact:** Enhanced opportunities for income generation through digital service delivery.
* **Action Required:** Engage with CSCs and relevant initiatives to provide services.
* **Citizens in Rural Areas**
* **Impact:** Improved access to digital services, government schemes, education, healthcare, and financial inclusion.
* **Action Required:** Utilize available digital platforms and services to improve quality of life.
* **State IT Departments and Agencies**
* **Impact:** Need to collaborate with CSC e-Governance Services India Limited for integration of e-District services.
* **Action Required:** Coordinate with CSC e-Governance Services India Limited for integration and service delivery.
* **Government Ministries/Departments and States/UTs:**
* **Impact:** Responsible for processing applications and disbursing scholarships/funds directly into the beneficiary's bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.
* **Action Required:** Ensure compliance with Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) regulations and policies.
Key Entities Referenced
Digital India programme: A Government of India initiative to promote Information Technology and digitally connect village-level entrepreneurs across States.
Common Service Centres (CSCs): Over 5 lakh CSCs operated by Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) provide digital services such as banking, insurance, telemedicine, education, and government services in rural and remote areas.
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology: The ministry responsible for promoting Information Technology to connect village level entrepreneurs.
BharatNet: A project to provide high-speed broadband connectivity to Gram Panchayats.
† O.I.H.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1903
TO BE ANSWERED ON: 11.02.2026
PROMOTION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TO CONNECT VILLAGE LEVEL
ENTREPRENEURS
†1903. SHRI BHUMARE SANDIPANRAO ASARAM:
SHRI GYANESHWAR PATIL:
DR. SHIVAJI BANDAPPA KALGE:
Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government propose to promote Information Technology to connect village level
entrepreneurs digitally across the various States of the country;
(b) if so, the details of the States of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh including Chhatrapati
Sambhaji Nagar districts of Maharashtra;
(c) whether the Government propose to integrate State Information Technology (SIT) agencies
with Common Service Centre E-Governance Service India Limited for digital transformation and
if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the major initiatives taken by the Government to launch new technologies in order to bring
positive changes in the lives of the people, capacity building and strengthen services of the State
Government and increase their income?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI JITIN PRASADA)
(a) to (d): Government is promoting the use of Information Technology to digitally connect
village-level entrepreneurs across States through multiple initiatives under the Digital India
programme.
Key initiatives include:
• Common Service Centres (CSCs): Over 5 lakh CSCs operated by Village Level
Entrepreneurs (VLEs) provide digital services such as banking, insurance, telemedicine,
education, and government services in rural and remote areas. State and district wise details
of functional CSCs, including State of Maharashtra and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar
district of Maharashtra, are available on the website https://csc.gov.in/
• BharatNet: Provision of high-speed broadband connectivity to Gram Panchayats to enable
digital service delivery and entrepreneurship at the village level. As of December 2025;
2,14,904 Gram Panchayats (GPs) have been made service-ready.• Digital platforms and e-marketplaces: Initiatives such as GeM, ONDC and various State
e-governance platforms enable rural entrepreneurs, SHGs and small businesses to access
wider markets.
• Skill development and capacity building: Programmes under PMGDISHA, Skill India,
and CSC Academy focus on digital literacy, IT skills and entrepreneurship for rural
citizens.
• Support for startups and MSMEs: Schemes such as Startup India, Digital MSME, and
promotion of fintech and agritech solutions facilitate technology adoption by grassroots
entrepreneurs.
CSC e-Governance Services India Limited regularly coordinates with State IT Departments and
their agencies for collaboration and integration of State e-District services with CSC in order to
strengthen the State Government’s service delivery and the income of the VLEs.
As on 31.01.2026, a total of 16 States/UTs have integrated their e-services with the CSCs. These
include Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya
Pradesh, Puducherry, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Sikkim and Tamil
Nadu.
To bring positive change in citizens’ lives and ensure equitable access to government services,
Government of India has implemented a wide range of technology-driven solutions which
includes:
• Aadhaar provides a universal digital identity to over 143 crore residents, enabling
seamless service delivery, while UPI has transformed digital payments, driving financial
inclusion by connecting millions of users, merchants, and banks.
• DigiLocker and UMANG offer anytime access to documents and over 2,390 government
services through a single interface respectively.
• Digital initiatives such as DIKSHA, GeM, e-Courts, e-Office, and CoWIN have
strengthened education, procurement, governance, and public health systems respectively.
• Health-focused platforms including eSanjeevani, e-Hospital, and Aarogya Setu have
expanded healthcare access nationwide.
• Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT) delivers welfare payments directly and remove fake
beneficiaries. So far, Rs. 48+ lakh crore has been transferred through DBT.
• National Scholarship Portal (NSP) enables scheme owning Ministries/Departments and
States/UTs to process applications and disburse Scholarships/funds directly into the
beneficiary’s bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode. The National
Scholarship Portal (NSP) serves over 7.47 Crore beneficiaries, with a total disbursement
exceeding Rs. 44,181+ Crore. So far, 153 schemes belonging to 13 Ministries/Departments
and 21 States/UTs are onboarded on NSP.
• CSCs, PMGDISHA, FutureSkills PRIME, MyGov, Jeevan Pramaan, and Poshan Tracker
further promote inclusion, transparency, digital literacy, citizen engagement, and last-mile
service delivery across urban and rural India.
*******