Why in NEWS?
Common Services Centres (CSCs), the grassroots pillars of the Digital India Mission, have completed 16 years of service as digital access points and rural empowerment hubs. They now number over 6.5 lakh, up from 83,000 in 2014—marking a 680% growth.
Key Terms and Concepts
| Term | Explanation |
|---|---|
| CSC | Local digital access point offering G2C & B2C services under MeitY. |
| VLE | Village Level Entrepreneur managing a CSC at the village level. |
| SCA & SDA | Private & state-level agencies managing CSC clusters and implementation. |
| CSC 2.0 | 2015 upgrade aiming for one CSC in every Gram Panchayat. |
| PACS & LAMPS | Rural cooperative institutions now integrated with CSCs for deeper outreach. |
Structure of CSCs (PPP Model)
| Level | Role |
|---|---|
| VLE | Manages CSC at village level. |
| SCA | Supervises ~500–1000 CSCs. |
| SDA | Oversees CSC implementation at state level. |
Significance of CSCs in Rural India
| Role | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Digital Access | Aadhaar, DigiLocker, PAN, e-district services via CSCs. |
| Empowering Women | 74,000+ women VLEs; promoting rural entrepreneurship. |
| Financial Inclusion | Banking, insurance, pensions, PM-KISAN services. |
| Boosting Rural Economy | CSC Grameen eStore, IRCTC, e-commerce integration. |
| Last-mile Governance | DBT efficiency and access to 300+ digital services. |
About Digital India Mission
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Launch | 1st July 2015 |
| Aim | Digital empowerment and improved e-governance. |
| Key Initiatives | Aadhaar, BharatNet, BHIM, DigiLocker, MyGov, eSign. |
Achievements (2014–2025)
| Domain | Progress |
|---|---|
| Digital Infra | Internet users ↑285%, broadband ↑1452%. |
| Digital Finance | UPI hit ₹24.77 lakh crore in Apr 2025; 49% global real-time share. |
| AI Revolution | IndiaAI Mission deployed 34,000+ GPUs for ethical AI growth. |
| Citizen Services | DigiLocker (53.9 Cr users), UMANG App (2,300+ services). |
| Language Tech | BHASHINI supports 35+ Indian languages via 1600 AI models. |
In a Nutshell
Mnemonic: C-S-C POWER
Connecting citizens, Supporting VLEs, Closing digital gaps → Promoting entrepreneurship, Optimizing governance, Widening access, Empowering rural India, Realizing Digital India.
Prelims Questions
- Which of the following ministries oversees the Common Services Centres (CSC) initiative?
a) Ministry of Rural Development
b) Ministry of Electronics and IT
c) Ministry of Home Affairs
d) Ministry of Corporate Affairs - What is the objective of CSC 2.0 launched in 2015?
a) Provide internet to all households
b) Establish one CSC in every Gram Panchayat
c) Train 10 lakh women VLEs
d) Promote digital agriculture - Which of the following is not a core pillar of the Digital India Mission?
a) Universal Digital Literacy
b) On-demand governance
c) Infrastructure as a utility to every citizen
d) Skill India for All
Mains Questions
- “Common Services Centres have become the rural lifeline of Digital India.” Discuss their role in digital inclusion and citizen-centric service delivery. 10 Marks
- Analyze the evolution and impact of CSCs in promoting entrepreneurship, digital governance, and financial empowerment in rural India. 15 Marks
Answer Key (Prelims)
| Q.No | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | b) Ministry of Electronics and IT | MeitY is the nodal ministry. |
| 2 | b) One CSC in every Gram Panchayat | Aim of CSC 2.0 launched in 2015. |
| 3 | d) Skill India for All | Not a pillar of Digital India (belongs to Skill India Mission). |
