Lok Sabha Question No. 1395 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-04
Subject: Promotion of Digital Literacy in Rural Areas
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri Dharambir Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  1395

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.12.2024

## PROMOTION OF DIGITAL LITERACY IN RURAL AREAS

## 1395. SHRI DHARAMBIR SINGH:

Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken steps to promote digital literacy in rural and underserved areas;
- (b) if so, the details thereof including the number of beneficiaries, State/UT-wise;
- (c) the initiatives undertaken to attract IT investments in rural regions;
- (d) whether specific training programmes in emerging technologies like AI and blockchain have been rolled out and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the steps proposed to establish IT training centres in Bhiwani-Mahendergarh?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a) to (e):  The Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) was launched by Government of India to promote digital literacy in rural India. The aim was to reach 6 crore rural households (one person per household) nationwide. The scheme has ended, as against 6 crore, 6.39 crore  individuals  were  trained  across  the  country  as  on  March  31,  2024.  The  State/UT-wise achievement is given at Annexure .

MeitY, Government of India launched the India BPO Promotion Scheme (IBPS) and North East BPO Promotion Scheme (NEBPS) to create jobs and promote IT/ITES in small towns by offering financial support  of  up  to  ₹1  lakh  per  seat.  The  schemes  also  provide  incentives  for  promoting  local entrepreneurs and hiring women and disabled individuals through BPO/ITES units across the country operating in States/UTs.

India is the  IT skills  capital  of  the  world.  Stanford  University  has  ranked  India  amongst  the top  4 along with US, UK and China in Global and national AI vibrancy ranking based on 42 indicators. Government of India has been taking steps to ensure that we continue to retain our advantage in IT skills.  MeitY  has  initiated  a  programme  titled  'FutureSkills  PRIME',  jointly  with  National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM), aimed at re-skilling/ up-skilling of candidates  in  new/emerging  technologies,  namely,  Blockchain,  Artificial  Intelligence,  Robotic Process  Automation,  Augmented/Virtual  Reality,  Internet  of  Things,  Big  Data  Analytics,  Additive Manufacturing/ 3D Printing, Cloud Computing, Social & Mobile and Cyber Security.

Further, under IndiaAI FutureSkills of India AI Mission, India AI fellowship is offered to B.Tech and M.Tech  students  of  all  the  All  India  Council  for  Technical  Education  (AICTE)  recognized engineering institutions.

IT Training Centres were set up under PMGDISHA scheme across the country, including BhiwaniMahendergarh districts of Haryana. Details are as below:

| District     |   Training Centres | Registered Candidates   | Trained Candidates   |
|--------------|--------------------|-------------------------|----------------------|
| Bhiwani      |                858 | 86,167                  | 72,171               |
| Mahendergarh |                683 | 54,230                  | 43,081               |

## States/UTs wise achievements under the PMGDISHA Scheme

| Sl. No.   | State Name                          | Registered Candidates   | Trained Candidates   |
|-----------|-------------------------------------|-------------------------|----------------------|
| 1         | Andaman and Nicobar Islands         | 5,564                   | 2,931                |
| 2         | Andhra Pradesh                      | 23,01,731               | 19,17,452            |
| 3         | Arunachal Pradesh                   | 14,949                  | 11,615               |
| 4         | Assam                               | 27,21,585               | 23,60,195            |
| 5         | Bihar                               | 82,40,606               | 74,12,740            |
| 6         | Chhattisgarh                        | 24,86,455               | 21,37,064            |
| 7         | Dadra &Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu | 20,522                  | 18,029               |
| 8         | Goa                                 | 58,569                  | 53,784               |
| 9         | Gujarat                             | 30,31,310               | 26,83,286            |
| 10        | Haryana                             | 18,57,815               | 15,77,109            |
| 11        | Himachal Pradesh                    | 6,61,922                | 5,32,976             |
| 12        | Jammu and Kashmir                   | 8,70,451                | 7,06,991             |
| 13        | Jharkhand                           | 27,52,731               | 22,86,356            |
| 14        | Karnataka                           | 29,64,726               | 24,40,957            |
| 15        | Kerala                              | 1,77,165                | 1,18,132             |
| 16        | Ladakh                              | 24,785                  | 22,122               |
| 17        | Lakshadweep                         | 142                     | 35                   |
| 18        | Madhya Pradesh                      | 56,92,467               | 50,69,449            |
| 19        | Maharashtra                         | 61,23,970               | 53,23,817            |
| 20        | Manipur                             | 28,397                  | 18,286               |
| 21        | Meghalaya                           | 1,52,783                | 1,06,063             |
| 22        | Mizoram                             | 30,317                  | 23,125               |
| 23        | Nagaland                            | 11,990                  | 8,968                |
| 24        | Odisha                              | 36,16,441               | 30,86,143            |
| 25        | Puducherry                          | 22,079                  | 15,801               |
| 26        | Punjab                              | 17,46,448               | 15,14,820            |
| 27        | Rajasthan                           | 45,06,184               | 39,70,690            |
| 28        | Sikkim                              | 27,035                  | 23,122               |
| 29        | Tamil Nadu                          | 17,04,537               | 14,07,880            |
| 30        | Telangana                           | 14,56,226               | 12,10,448            |
| 31        | Tripura                             | 3,25,000                | 2,64,186             |
| 32        | Uttar Pradesh                       | 1,63,14,369             | 1,45,48,273          |
| 33        | Uttarakhand                         | 7,85,978                | 6,73,306             |
| 34        | West Bengal                         | 28,36,714               | 23,95,565            |
| Total     | Total                               | 7,35,71,963             | 6,39,41,716          |

*Chandigarh and Delhi are in Urban agglomeration, hence not covered under the Scheme.

*******