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Hindustan Times
17-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
10 lakh people to get free AI training, says Ashwini Vaishnaw
Union minister of electronics and information technology Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday announced that 10 lakh people will be given free artificial intelligence training. Ashwini Vaishnaw is being felicitated by the Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, S Krishnan, during "CSC Diwas 2025" Celebration.(Shrikant Singh/ANI) Ashwini Vaishnaw was speaking at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi during the celebration of 10 Years of Digital India by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Common Service Centre e-Governance Services India Limited (CSC SPV), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), conducted the celebration of the ten-year-old Digital India initiative. An official release from the Ministry of Electronics and IT said the celebration marked a decade of widespread digital empowerment across India, reported ANI. Ashwini Vaishnaw, inaugurated the programme as the chief guest. In his address, Vaishnaw said, "VLE brothers and sisters across the country have set a remarkable example by delivering the benefits of Digital India to every citizen. When the world questioned how a tea seller or a vegetable vendor could use digital payments, today that dream has come true--UPI payments have surpassed Visa transactions. This is the strength of 1.4 billion Indians." Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Jitin Prasada, also attended the event. 'Era of AI' "We are now in the era of Artificial Intelligence, and it is advancing rapidly. With time, we must use new technologies to bring positive change in people's lives and empower them," Prasada said. Emphasizing on the need to strengthen awareness, capacity building and cybersecurity in the myriad fields of agriculture, health, and education sectors, Prasada recommended allowing VLEs to deliver Update Client Lite and state government services to boost income. Welcoming the dignitaries, Sanjay Rakesh, Managing Director & CEO, CSC SPV, stated, "With CSC, there is no need to visit cities to avail government services. CSC centres are providing G2C and B2B services at doorsteps in remote areas of the country, enabling digital empowerment." In the last ten years, CSC has emerged as a model of Digital India that represents a new paradigm of inclusion and empowerment, Rakesh said. 'I am fully confident that by moving forward with the Prime Minister's mantra of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vishwas, we will take the country to new heights,' he added. Tracing down history Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015, the Digital India program aimed to make technology accessible to every corner of the country. Over the last decade, the initiative has effectively bridged the digital divide, transforming governance, financial inclusion, and internet accessibility. The initiave made India, the world's third-largest digital economy. CSC SPV, established in 2009 under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has emerged as one of the world's largest digital service delivery ecosystems, featuring over 5.5 lakh operational centres. Each CSC is operated by a Village Level Entrepreneur (VLE), who acts as a local changemaker and provides citizen-centric services including Aadhaar enrollment and updates, PAN card and passport services, Banking and insurance, Telemedicine and education services, Skill development and legal aid through Tele-Law and Agriculture services, Grameen eStore (B2B), utility bill payments, and more. 2014 vs 2025 Prasada stressed on how about ten years ago, there were merely about 83,000 CSC centres in the country, whereas now, India is dotted with nearly 5.50 lakh centres. He talked of the integration of Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACS) with CSCs and acknowledged that over 74,000 women VLEs are setting new benchmarks in empowerment. Vaishnaw talked of CSC benefits Further talking of CSC, Vaishnaw said that CSC has reached nearly 90% of the country's villages. 'If there is any medium capable of reaching every village, it is CSC,' he added. Citing inspiring instances like those of VLE Manjulata from Odisha's Mayurbhanj district and VLE Rose Angelina from Meghalaya, he stressed how women acquired digital skills and empowered their communities at the same time, despite challenging circumstances. "Through her centre in the Mairang area, VLE Rose Angelina M. Kharsyntiew is not only delivering services but also setting an example of transformation, empowerment, and community service," he added. He urged all VLEs to start offering IRCTC services and committed to speaking with Chief Ministers to integrate state IT agencies with CSC-SPV. 'The resolve to extend the benefits of Digital India to the last mile of society is being carried forward with the help of our VLE brothers and sisters. Ten years ago, when we began the Digital India initiative, the Prime Minister had the vision to lay the foundation for a developed India,' said Jitin Prasada as he underscored the role of CSCs in bridging the digital divide. CSC day celebrations CSC day was celebrated with great pomp and enthusiasm across India. In the national capital, Delhi, the two-day celebration was held on July 15-16, 2025. On July 15, IT Secretaries from all states convened at Delhi's Bharat Mandapam to deliberate on rural empowerment, the future of e-governance, and the crucial role of CSCs. Between July 1 and 15, CSCs across the nation engaged in celebrating the occasion with active public participation, as the top-performing VLEs were felicitated for their notable contributions to the bright digital future of India. (With inputs from ANI)
Entrepreneur
17-07-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
From Tea Sellers to Tech Users: CSC Event Celebrates Digital India's Reach
You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Common Service Centre e-Governance Services India Limited (CSC SPV), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), celebrated 10 Years of Digital India at New Delhi. The event marked a decade of progress toward bridging the digital divide and empowering citizens at the grassroots level. Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, inaugurated the event and addressed the gathering as the Chief Guest. In his speech, he commended the dedication of Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) who have brought digital services to citizens in the most remote corners of India. "VLE brothers and sisters across the country have set a remarkable example by delivering the benefits of Digital India to every citizen," he said. "When the world questioned how a tea seller or a vegetable vendor could use digital payments, today that dream has come true. UPI payments have now surpassed Visa transactions. This is the strength of 1.4 billion Indians." The Minister highlighted that CSCs have reached nearly 90 percent of villages across the nation, calling them the most effective medium for last-mile digital access. He also shared inspiring stories of VLEs like Manjulata from Odisha's Mayurbhanj district and Rose Angelina from Meghalaya, who overcame personal challenges to lead digital change in their communities. "Through her center in the Mairang area, Rose Angelina is not only delivering services but also setting an example of transformation and empowerment," he noted. Key announcements during the event included the launch of free artificial intelligence training for ten lakh individuals, with a special focus on VLEs. Vaishnaw urged VLEs to begin offering IRCTC services and expressed commitment to collaborating with state governments to integrate their IT systems with CSC-SPV. Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Jitin Prasada, emphasised the foundational role of CSCs in achieving the goals of Digital India. "The resolve to extend the benefits of Digital India to the last mile is being carried forward with the help of our VLE brothers and sisters," he said. He recalled that there were only 83,000 CSCs in 2014, a number that has now grown to nearly 5.5 lakh. He also acknowledged over 74,000 women VLEs and discussed the importance of using new technologies such as artificial intelligence to uplift sectors like health, education, and agriculture. Welcoming the dignitaries, Sanjay Rakesh, Managing Director and CEO of CSC SPV, highlighted the impact of the centres in providing services directly to people's doorsteps. "With CSC, there is no need to visit cities to avail government services. We are creating a new paradigm of inclusion and empowerment," he said. CSC Diwas was celebrated across the country between July 1 and 15 with active public participation. In Delhi, a two-day event brought together IT Secretaries from all states to discuss the future of e-governance and rural empowerment. Top-performing VLEs were honoured for their contributions. Since its inception in 2015, Digital India has played a crucial role in transforming governance and financial access. With more than 5.5 lakh centres operated by VLEs, CSC SPV has become one of the world's largest digital service delivery networks. The movement continues to redefine inclusion, proving that digital empowerment is not a privilege but a right for every citizen.
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Business Standard
16-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Vaishnaw announces free AI training for over 5.5 lakh CSC franchise holders
While speaking at the 10th anniversary of CSC SPV, Vaishnaw said that training will be provided under the government's IndiaAI Mission, which has a provision to train 10 lakh people on AI Press Trust of India New Delhi The government will provide training on artificial intelligence to over 5.5 lakh Village Level Entrepreneurs who run Common Service Centres for free, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Wednesday. While speaking at the 10th anniversary of CSC SPV, Vaishnaw said that training will be provided under the government's IndiaAI Mission, which has a provision to train 10 lakh people on AI. "All of you will be given AI training for free. We have set a target under the IndiaAI Mission to skill around 10 lakh people. All 5.5 lakh VLEs will be given preference in that training," Vaishnaw said. Minister of State for Electronics and IT Jitin Prasada brought to the notice of the minister the demand of CSC VLEs for merging state-based government services centres with CSC, as it will provide them a higher income generation opportunity. He also said that CSC VLEs want allotment of Aadhaar-related work at their centre. Vaishnaw asked CSC SPV to prepare details on the merger of state-based service centres and assured VLEs that he would discuss the possibility of their merger with state governments. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
