Lok Sabha Question No. 950 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: Common Service Centres
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Riti Pathak, Locket Chatterjee, Geeta Kora, Rama Devi, Navneet Ravi Rana, Jugal Kishore Sharma, Janardan Singh Sigriwal, Ajay Kumar Mandal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 950

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 26.07.2023

## COMMON SERVICE CENTRES

950.     SHRIMATI RITI PATHAK:  MS. LOCKET CHATTERJEE:

SHRIMATI GEETA KORA:  SHRIMATI RAMA DEVI:

SHRIMATI NAVNEET RAVI RANA:  SHRI JUGAL KISHORE SHARMA:

SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL:  SHRI AJAY KUMAR MANDAL:

Will the MINISTER OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has started Common Services Centres (CSCs) to provide cyber services in Gram Panchayats and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the district-wise details of the number of CSCs set up in West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Maharashtra particularly in Amravati, Jammu and Kashmir and Madhya Pradesh so far;
- (c) the time by which dedicated CSCs would be established in all Gram Panchayats across the country including West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir and Madhya Pradesh;
- (d) whether the Government has made any policy to make social media accountable; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR)

(a)  to  (c):    Common  Services  Centres  (CSCs)  have  been  setup  under  and  initiative  of  the Electronics and Information Technology. CSC e-Governance Services India Limited, a special purpose vehicle (SPV), is the implementing agency. The CSC initiative aims to deliver services to rural citizens through CSCs and expand the CSC network till the Gram Panchayat level. Over 400  services  are  being  delivered  through  CSCs,  including  government  services,  financial services and services related to Aadhaar, various social welfare schemes, education, telemedicine, travel bookings, utility payments, etc.

As per information furnished by CSC e-Governance Service India Limited (CSC SPV), as on 31.05.2023,  5,21,150  CSCs  arefunctional,  out  of  which  4,13,999  CSCs  arefunctional  at  the Gram Panchayat level.The number of functional CSCs in the States of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir and Madhya Pradesh are as below (as on 31.05.2023):

|   S.N. | State             | Total number of CSCs (Urban + Rural)   | Total number of CSCs in Rural   |
|--------|-------------------|----------------------------------------|---------------------------------|
|      1 | West Bengal       | 25,417                                 | 23,043                          |
|      2 | Jharkhand         | 20,016                                 | 17,231                          |
|      3 | Bihar             | 56,522                                 | 50,464                          |
|      4 | Maharashtra       | 53,036                                 | 44,200                          |
|      5 | Jammu and Kashmir | 7,561                                  | 6,370                           |
|      6 | Madhya Pradesh    | 42,737                                 | 32,261                          |

District-wise  number  of  functional  CSCs  in  the  States  of  West  Bengal,  Jharkhand,  Bihar, Maharashtra (including Amaravati), Jammu & Kashmir and Madhya Pradesh as on 31.5.2023, are at Annexure-I.

CSCs are  run  on  a  self-sustainable  basis  by  village-level  entrepreneurs  and  the  setting  up  of CSCs  in  a  particular  locality  depends  upon  a  number  of  factors,  such  as  the  viability  of operations,the  demand  for  its  services  and  footfalls  at  the  centres.  The  implementing  agency makes efforts on an ongoing basis to improve its viability by expanding the bouquet of services and  strengthening  the  integrated  delivery  platform.  The  number  of  GPs  with  atleast  one functional  CSCs  in  the  State  of  West  Bengal,  Jharkhand,  Bihar,  Maharashtra  Jammu  and Kashmir and Madhya Pradesh are as below (as on 31.05.2023):

|   S. No. | State             | Total number of GPs [as per Local Government Directory (LGD)]   | Number of GPs with atleast one CSC   |
|----------|-------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
|        1 | West Bengal       | 3,341                                                           | 3,324                                |
|        2 | Jharkhand         | 4,161                                                           | 4,161                                |
|        3 | Bihar             | 8,385                                                           | 8,385                                |
|        4 | Maharashtra       | 27,875                                                          | 27,875                               |
|        5 | Jammu and Kashmir | 4,193                                                           | 4,193                                |
|        6 | Madhya Pradesh    | 22,810                                                          | 22,810                               |

(d)  and  (e):The Government's objective is to ensure an Open, Safe, Trusted and Accountable Internet  for  Digital  Nagrik.To  ensure  that,  the  Central  Government,  in  exercise  of  powers conferred by  the Information  Technology  Act,  2000  ('IT  Act'),  has  notified  the  new Information  Technology  (Intermediary  Guidelines  and  Digital  Media  Ethics  Code)  Rules, 2021('IT Rules, 2021').

These new rules cast specific obligation on intermediaries vis-à-vis what kind of information to be hosted, displayed, uploaded, published, transmitted, stored or shared. Intermediaries are also required to  remove  any  content  violative  of  any  law  for  the  time  being  in  force  as  and  when brought  to  their  knowledge  either  through  a  court  order  or  through  a  notice  by  appropriate government or its authorised agency.

In case of failure to follow diligence as provided in the IT Rules, 2021, by intermediaries, they shall lose their exemption from liability under section 79 of the IT Act and shall be liable for consequential action as provided in such law. Further, in case an intermediary is a significant social media intermediary (an intermediary having more than 50 lakh registered users in India), to  additionally  observe  due  diligence  in  terms  of  appointing,  in  India,  a  Grievance  Officer,  a Chief  Compliance  Officer  and  a  nodal  contact  person  for  24x7  coordination  with  law enforcement agencies. As per the IT Rules, 2021, the Chief Compliance Officer is responsible for ensuring compliance with the IT Act and the rules made thereunder.

Keeping  in  view  complaints  regarding  action  or  inaction,  on  the  part  of  the  social  media intermediaries  and  other  intermediaries  on  user  grievances  regarding  objectionable  content  or suspension  of  their  accounts,  the  Central  Government  has  also  established  three  GACs (Grievance Appellate Committees), as provided for in the said IT Rules, 2021 to enable users to appeal against the decisions taken by Grievance Officer of intermediaries on user complaints.

*******

Annexure-I

## District-wise number of CSCs in the state of West Bengal, as on 31.05.2023

| S.N.   | District          | Total number of CSCs (Urban + Rural)   | Total number of CSCs in Rural   |
|--------|-------------------|----------------------------------------|---------------------------------|
| 1      | NORTH 24 PARGANAS | 1,783                                  | 1,385                           |
| 2      | SOUTH 24 PARGANAS | 1,931                                  | 1,795                           |
| 3      | ALIPURDUAR        | 443                                    | 434                             |
| 4      | BANKURA           | 1,227                                  | 1,159                           |
| 5      | BIRBHUM           | 1,405                                  | 1,291                           |
| 6      | COOCHBEHAR        | 1,152                                  | 1,083                           |
| 7      | DARJEELING        | 277                                    | 216                             |
| 8      | DINAJPUR DAKSHIN  | 980                                    | 906                             |
| 9      | DINAJPUR UTTAR    | 988                                    | 933                             |
| 10     | HOOGHLY           | 1,120                                  | 977                             |
| 11     | HOWRAH            | 799                                    | 705                             |
| 12     | JALPAIGURI        | 609                                    | 552                             |
| 13     | JHARGRAM          | 232                                    | 224                             |
| 14     | KALIMPONG         | 44                                     | 43                              |
| 15     | KOLKATA           | 174                                    | 0                               |
| 16     | MALDAH            | 1,592                                  | 1,535                           |
| 17     | MEDINIPUR EAST    | 1,967                                  | 1,841                           |
| 18     | MEDINIPUR WEST    | 1,594                                  | 1,489                           |
| 19     | MURSHIDABAD       | 2,216                                  | 2,044                           |
| 20     | NADIA             | 1,850                                  | 1,688                           |
| 21     | PASCHIM BARDHAMAN | 328                                    | 249                             |
| 22     | PURBA BARDHAMAN   | 1,389                                  | 1,241                           |
| 23     | PURULIA           | 1,317                                  | 1,253                           |
|        | Total             | 25,417                                 | 23,043                          |

Source: CSC e-Governance Service India Limited

District-wise number of CSCs in the state of Jharkhand, as on 31.05.2023

|   S.N. | District       | Total number of CSCs (Urban + Rural)   | Total number of CSCs in Rural   |
|--------|----------------|----------------------------------------|---------------------------------|
|      1 | BOKARO         | 1,081                                  | 910                             |
|      2 | CHATRA         | 756                                    | 700                             |
|      3 | DEOGHAR        | 1,320                                  | 1,126                           |
|      4 | DHANBAD        | 1,183                                  | 840                             |
|      5 | DUMKA          | 1,047                                  | 969                             |
|      6 | EAST SINGHBHUM | 901                                    | 676                             |
|      7 | GARHWA         | 849                                    | 789                             |
|      8 | GIRIDIH        | 1,786                                  | 1,658                           |
|      9 | GODDA          | 1,114                                  | 1,020                           |
|     10 | GUMLA          | 528                                    | 466                             |
|     11 | HAZARIBAGH     | 1,406                                  | 1,239                           |
|     12 | JAMTARA        | 643                                    | 591                             |
|     13 | KHUNTI         | 306                                    | 257                             |
|     14 | KODERMA        | 483                                    | 403                             |
|     15 | LATEHAR        | 556                                    | 491                             |

| 16   | LOHARDAGA           | 248    | 213    |
|------|---------------------|--------|--------|
| 17   | PAKUR               | 640    | 561    |
| 18   | PALAMU              | 1,238  | 1,069  |
| 19   | RAMGARH             | 524    | 443    |
| 20   | RANCHI              | 1,389  | 1,070  |
| 21   | SAHEBGANJ           | 728    | 645    |
| 22   | SARAIKELA-KHARSAWAN | 536    | 439    |
| 23   | SIMDEGA             | 185    | 165    |
| 24   | WEST SINGHBHUM      | 569    | 491    |
|      | Total               | 20,016 | 17,231 |

Source: CSC e-Governance Service India Limited

District-wise number of CSCs in the state of Bihar, as on 31.05.2023

|   S.N. | District       | Total number of CSCs (Urban + Rural)   | Total number of CSCs in Rural   |
|--------|----------------|----------------------------------------|---------------------------------|
|      1 | ARARIA         | 1,859                                  | 1,750                           |
|      2 | ARWAL          | 271                                    | 250                             |
|      3 | AURANGABAD     | 1,058                                  | 943                             |
|      4 | BANKA          | 1,411                                  | 1,326                           |
|      5 | BEGUSARAI      | 1,465                                  | 1,239                           |
|      6 | BHAGALPUR      | 1,923                                  | 1,675                           |
|      7 | BHOJPUR        | 1,127                                  | 929                             |
|      8 | BUXAR          | 703                                    | 612                             |
|      9 | DARBHANGA      | 2,371                                  | 2,176                           |
|     10 | GAYA           | 1,920                                  | 1,712                           |
|     11 | GOPALGANJ      | 1,617                                  | 1,491                           |
|     12 | JAMUI          | 1,026                                  | 938                             |
|     13 | JEHANABAD      | 424                                    | 348                             |
|     14 | KAIMUR(BHABUA) | 815                                    | 729                             |
|     15 | KATIHAR        | 2,106                                  | 1,973                           |
|     16 | KHAGARIA       | 1,000                                  | 927                             |
|     17 | KISHANGANJ     | 1,112                                  | 990                             |
|     18 | LAKHISARAI     | 484                                    | 386                             |
|     19 | MADHEPURA      | 1,384                                  | 1,291                           |
|     20 | MADHUBANI      | 2,719                                  | 2,572                           |
|     21 | MUNGER         | 684                                    | 527                             |
|     22 | MUZAFFARPUR    | 3,198                                  | 2,985                           |
|     23 | NALANDA        | 1,284                                  | 1,081                           |
|     24 | NAWADA         | 956                                    | 847                             |
|     25 | WEST CHAMPARAN | 1,973                                  | 1,713                           |
|     26 | PATNA          | 2,332                                  | 1,569                           |
|     27 | EAST CHAMPARAN | 2,607                                  | 2,359                           |
|     28 | PURNIA         | 1,931                                  | 1,750                           |
|     29 | ROHTAS         | 1,184                                  | 978                             |
|     30 | SAHARSA        | 1,296                                  | 1,126                           |
|     31 | SAMASTIPUR     | 2,330                                  | 2,217                           |
|     32 | SARAN          | 2,141                                  | 1,924                           |
|     33 | SHEIKHPURA     | 307                                    | 225                             |
|     34 | SHEOHAR        | 392                                    | 363                             |
|     35 | SITAMARHI      | 2,081                                  | 1,919                           |
|     36 | SIWAN          | 1,784                                  | 1,651                           |
|     37 | SUPAUL         | 1,495                                  | 1,393                           |

| 38   | VAISHALI   | 1,752   | 1,580   |
|------|------------|---------|---------|
|      | Total      | 56,522  | 50,464  |

Source: CSC e-Governance Service India Limited

District-wise number of CSCs in the state of Maharashtra, as on 31.05.2023

| S.N.   | District        | Total number of CSCs (Urban + Rural)   | Total number of CSCs in Rural   |
|--------|-----------------|----------------------------------------|---------------------------------|
| 1      | Ahmednagar      | 2,350                                  | 2,014                           |
| 2      | Akola           | 1,125                                  | 896                             |
| 3      | Amravati        | 1,586                                  | 1,403                           |
| 4      | Aurangabad      | 2,250                                  | 1,792                           |
| 5      | Beed            | 2,187                                  | 1,857                           |
| 6      | Bhandara        | 1,143                                  | 1,065                           |
| 7      | Buldhana        | 2,025                                  | 1,770                           |
| 8      | Chandrapur      | 1,236                                  | 1,076                           |
| 9      | Dhule           | 1,211                                  | 1,019                           |
| 10     | Gadchiroli      | 819                                    | 737                             |
| 11     | Gondia          | 1,171                                  | 1,066                           |
| 12     | Hingoli         | 1,078                                  | 955                             |
| 13     | Jalgaon         | 2,069                                  | 1,774                           |
| 14     | Jalna           | 1,666                                  | 1,679                           |
| 15     | Kolhapur        | 1,792                                  | 1,601                           |
| 16     | Latur           | 1,559                                  | 1,256                           |
| 17     | Mumbai          | 626                                    | 5                               |
| 18     | Mumbai Suburban | 228                                    | 7                               |
| 19     | Nagpur          | 1,731                                  | 1,234                           |
| 20     | Nanded          | 2,178                                  | 1,975                           |
| 21     | Nandurbar       | 1,030                                  | 965                             |
| 22     | Nashik          | 2,980                                  | 2,437                           |
| 23     | Osmanabad       | 1,373                                  | 1,305                           |
| 24     | Palghar         | 1,070                                  | 810                             |
| 25     | Parbhani        | 1,438                                  | 1,184                           |
| 26     | Pune            | 2,346                                  | 1,727                           |
| 27     | Raigad          | 1,109                                  | 836                             |
| 28     | Ratnagiri       | 891                                    | 814                             |
| 29     | Sangli          | 1,321                                  | 1,143                           |
| 30     | Satara          | 1,703                                  | 1,632                           |
| 31     | Sindhudurg      | 578                                    | 558                             |
| 32     | Solapur         | 2,156                                  | 1,895                           |
| 33     | Thane           | 1,474                                  | 625                             |
| 34     | Wardha          | 730                                    | 655                             |
| 35     | Washim          | 1,015                                  | 856                             |
| 36     | Yavatmal        | 1,792                                  | 1,577                           |
|        | Total           | 53,036                                 | 44,200                          |

Source: CSC e-Governance Service India Limited

District-wise number of CSCs in the state of Jammu and Kashmir as on 31.05.2023

| S.N.   | District   | Total number of CSCs (Urban + Rural)   | Total number of CSCs in Rural   |
|--------|------------|----------------------------------------|---------------------------------|
| 1      | ANANTNAG   | 692                                    | 584                             |
| 2      | BANDIPORA  | 327                                    | 267                             |
| 3      | BARAMULLA  | 691                                    | 610                             |
| 4      | Budgam     | 579                                    | 527                             |
| 5      | DODA       | 310                                    | 296                             |
| 6      | GANDERBAL  | 247                                    | 223                             |
| 7      | JAMMU      | 680                                    | 451                             |
| 8      | KATHUA     | 349                                    | 303                             |
| 9      | KISHTWAR   | 181                                    | 162                             |
| 10     | KULGAM     | 404                                    | 360                             |
| 11     | KUPWARA    | 506                                    | 485                             |
| 12     | POONCH     | 307                                    | 295                             |
| 13     | PULWAMA    | 401                                    | 350                             |
| 14     | RAJOURI    | 417                                    | 384                             |
| 15     | RAMBAN     | 261                                    | 245                             |
| 16     | REASI      | 243                                    | 231                             |
| 17     | SAMBA      | 182                                    | 151                             |
| 18     | SHOPIAN    | 184                                    | 170                             |
| 19     | SRINAGAR   | 333                                    | 51                              |
| 20     | UDHAMPUR   | 267                                    | 225                             |
|        | Total      | 7,561                                  | 6,370                           |

Source: CSC e-Governance Service India Limited

District-wise number of CSCs in the state of Madhya Pradesh as on 31.05.2023

|   S.N. | District   | Total number of CSCs (Urban + Rural)   | Total number of CSCs in Rural   |
|--------|------------|----------------------------------------|---------------------------------|
|      1 | AGARMALWA  | 307                                    | 232                             |
|      2 | ALIRAJPUR  | 393                                    | 352                             |
|      3 | ANUPPUR    | 650                                    | 561                             |
|      4 | ASHOKNAGAR | 512                                    | 414                             |
|      5 | BALAGHAT   | 1,101                                  | 999                             |
|      6 | BARWANI    | 561                                    | 470                             |
|      7 | BETUL      | 897                                    | 757                             |
|      8 | BHIND      | 711                                    | 458                             |
|      9 | BHOPAL     | 874                                    | 251                             |
|     10 | BURHANPUR  | 339                                    | 208                             |
|     11 | CHHATARPUR | 1,799                                  | 1,356                           |
|     12 | CHHINDWARA | 1,364                                  | 1,029                           |
|     13 | DAMOH      | 1,110                                  | 921                             |
|     14 | DATIA      | 540                                    | 431                             |
|     15 | DEWAS      | 845                                    | 584                             |
|     16 | DHAR       | 897                                    | 729                             |
|     17 | DINDORI    | 535                                    | 486                             |
|     18 | EAST NIMAR | 681                                    | 553                             |
|     19 | GUNA       | 813                                    | 581                             |

| 20   | GWALIOR     | 952    | 373    |
|------|-------------|--------|--------|
| 21   | HARDA       | 265    | 202    |
| 22   | HOSHANGABAD | 565    | 417    |
| 23   | INDORE      | 1,026  | 313    |
| 24   | JABALPUR    | 1,184  | 629    |
| 25   | JHABUA      | 485    | 411    |
| 26   | KATNI       | 803    | 676    |
| 27   | KHARGONE    | 900    | 745    |
| 28   | MANDLA      | 838    | 761    |
| 29   | MANDSAUR    | 738    | 576    |
| 30   | MORENA      | 1,168  | 802    |
| 31   | NARSINGHPUR | 524    | 394    |
| 32   | NEEMUCH     | 511    | 356    |
| 33   | Niwari      | 266    | 230    |
| 34   | PANNA       | 645    | 556    |
| 35   | RAISEN      | 699    | 498    |
| 36   | RAJGARH     | 943    | 773    |
| 37   | RATLAM      | 747    | 532    |
| 38   | REWA        | 1,924  | 1,573  |
| 39   | SAGAR       | 1,698  | 1,249  |
| 40   | SATNA       | 1,351  | 1,042  |
| 41   | SEHORE      | 784    | 615    |
| 42   | SEONI       | 860    | 758    |
| 43   | SHAHDOL     | 891    | 755    |
| 44   | SHAJAPUR    | 480    | 383    |
| 45   | SHEOPUR     | 314    | 250    |
| 46   | SHIVPURI    | 916    | 739    |
| 47   | SIDHI       | 919    | 809    |
| 48   | SINGRAULI   | 982    | 851    |
| 49   | TIKAMGARH   | 803    | 660    |
| 50   | UJJAIN      | 1,045  | 685    |
| 51   | UMARIA      | 534    | 472    |
| 52   | VIDISHA     | 1,048  | 804    |
|      | Total       | 42,737 | 32,261 |

Source: CSC e-Governance Service India Limited ********