Lok Sabha Question No. 5126 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-02
Subject: Digital India Common Service Centre
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri Navaskani K, Shri C N Annadurai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5126

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 02.04.2025

## DIGITAL INDIA COMMON SERVICE CENTRE

## 5126. SHRI NAVASKANI K: SHRI C N ANNADURAI:

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

- (a)  the  details  regarding the number of one model Digital India Common Service Centre (DICSC) to be established in all gram panchayats across all districts of the country;
- (b) the budgetary allocation made for this project;
- (c)  the  current  reach  of  Common Service Centre (CSC) across rural and urban areas and the manner in which it aligns with the goals set under the Digital India initiative;
- (d) the number of CSCs set up in the State of Tamil Nadu along with the percentage of the centres which are functional;
- (e) the steps being taken by the Government to ensure adequate internet connectivity at CSCs in remote and rural areas where network issues are prevalent;
- (f) the mechanisms put in place to monitor and improve the quality of services provided by CSCs; and
- (g) the other steps taken by the Government to bridge the digital divide in rural India and ensure that digital services reach every citizen?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (e):    Ministry  of  Electronics  and  Information  Technology  (MeitY)  approved  the  Digital  India Common  Service  Centres  (DICSC)  project  with  an  objective  of  setting-up  4,740  CSCs  at  the  Gram Panchayat  (GPs)  level  in  10  districts.  CSC  e-Governance  Services  India  Limited  is  the  implementing agency  for  the  project.  These  10  districts  are  Gandhinagar,  Chamba,  Puducherry,  Chhatrapati  Sambhaji Nagar  (Aurangabad),  Mamit,  Jodhpur,  Khammam,  Pilibhit,  Gorakhpur  and  Leh  (Ladakh).  Total  budget outlay of the project is Rs. 31.6 Cr.

Common Services Centre (CSC) project i.e CSC 2.0 is an initiative of Government of India, under the 3rd pillar (Public Internet Access Programme) of Digital India initiative. It aims to expand the CSC network to GPs  and  access  of  e-services  to  the  citizen.  CSCs  are  setup  and  run/operated  by  the  Vilage  Level Entrepreneur (VLEs), on a self-sustainable basis. These Centres (CSCs) deliver over 800 services including government services, financial services and services related to Aadhaar, various social welfare schemes, education, telemedicine, travel bookings, utility payments, etc.

CSC e-Governance Services India Limited has apprised that in February, 2025, a total of 5,72,664 CSCs are  functional  across  the  country,  with  4,51,880  CSCs  functional  at  the  Gram  Panchayat  (GP)  level.  In Tamil Nadu, a total number of 32,180 CSCs are registered, out of which in February 2025, 19,131 CSCs are functional i.e 59.45 % functional CSCs.

CSC operates on an entrepreneurship model and the VLE creates his/her own infrastructure for setting-up of CSCs.

Department of Telecommunications, has taken a number of steps & projects with funding  from  Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) [erstwhile Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)], Department of Telecommunications (DOT), for internet connectivity in remote and rural areas. Some of the projects have already been completed and many are under implementation. Details of the major projects are as follows:

i. BharatNet project is being implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to all the Gram Panchayats (GPs) and villages. The infrastructure created under BharatNet project is a national asset, accessible on a non-discriminatory basis to the Service Providers, and the same can be utilized to provide  broadband  services,  such  as  Fibre  to  the  Home  (FTTH)  connections,  leased  lines,  dark  fibre, backhaul to mobile towers, etc. On 04.08.2023, the Union Cabinet has approved the Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) under Design, Built, Operate and Maintain (DBOM) model, for up-gradation of existing network of BharatNet Phase-I and Phase-II, creation of network in 42,000 GPs (approx.), Operation and Maintenance for 10 years and utilization. The connectivity to remaining non-GP villages (about 3.8 lakhs) is  to  be  provided  on  demand  basis  from  their  respective  GPs.  BSNL  has  been  nominated as the Project Management  Agency.  As  of  Feb-2025;  2,14,323  GPs  have  been  made  service  ready  under  BharatNet project in the country.

ii. For provision of high-speed internet/data and Mobile Services (including 4G) in remote & rural areas of the country, various targeted schemes/projects have been implemented.

Comprehensive  Telecom  Development  Plan  (CTDP) for  mobile  connectivity  in  the  North  Eastern Region, Comprehensive  Telecom Development Plan for Islands (Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands), Scheme for providing mobile services in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas, Schemes for providing mobile services in Aspirational Districts, Scheme for providing mobile services in the border villages  and  other  priority  areas,  4G  Saturation  scheme  to  provide  mobile  coverage  in  all  uncovered villages  etc.  The  project  for  saturation  of  4G  mobile  services  for  providing  4G  mobile  services  in uncovered villages in remote and difficult areas of the country is also under implementation at a total cost of Rs. 26,316 Cr. Till February 2025, 21, 577 villages/ locations have been covered under above mentioned mobile projects in the country.

iii. Commissioning of submarine optical fibre  cable in  Aug-2020  between  Chennai  and  Andaman  & Nicobar  Islands  (2312  Km)  for  providing  high  speed  internet/data  connectivity  to  Andaman  &  Nicobar Islands.  Commissioning  of  Submarine  OFC  connectivity  between  Mainland  (Kochi)  and  Lakshadweep Islands  (1869  km)  (Total  11  Islands;  Kavaratti,  Kalpeni,  Agatti,  Amini,  Androth,  Minicoy,  Bangaram, Bitra, Chetlat, Kiltan and Kadmath) in Jan-2024. Creation of 225Km OFC network in Lakshadweep Islands for provision of FTTH & other services. These optical fibre cable  projects have facilitated faster roll out of mobile services (4G/5G) and other high-speed data/internet  services in the Islands.

- (f):    CSC  e-Governance  Services  India  Limited  has  apprised      that  it  continuously  monitors  service delivery, provided by CSCs, through various mechanisms, as follows:
- i. Performance tracking through dashboards that monitor transactions and service delivery at each CSC.
- ii. A centralized grievance redressal system to address VLEs and citizen complaints.
- iii. Capacity building and training programs for VLEs to enhance the efficiency and skill set of VLEs.
- iv. At grassroot level, regular audits and assessments to ensure operational efficiency.

(g):   The Government is taking various steps to bridge the digital divide, including:

-  PMGDISHA (Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan) to enhance digital literacy among rural citizens.
-  CSCs to deliver more G2C/B2C services (such as  include banking, telemedicine, digital learning, and financial inclusion) at gram panchayat level.
-  BharatNet project is being implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to all the  Gram  Panchayats  (GPs)  and  villages.  As  of  Feb  2025,  2,14,323  GPs  have  been  made  service ready under BharatNet project in the country.

*******