6-Apr-2022: Common Service Centres

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has built the network of Common Services Centres (CSC) under the Digital India Programme.

The CSC project envisages setting up of at-least one CSC in each of 2.50 lakh Gram Panchayats (GPs) across the country, for delivery of various Government-to-Citizen (G2C) and other citizen-centric e-Services to citizens. It is a self-sustainable entrepreneurship model which is run by Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs).

As on 28 February 2022, there are 4,63,705functional CSCs across the country. On average four (4) persons are engaged at each CSC. Accordingly, around 15 lakh people are now directly or indirectly working at the CSCs across the country.

20-Sep-2021: Centre signs model MoU with CSC e-Governance Services India Limited

Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) under Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution entered into a model MoU with CSC e-Governance Services India Limited (CSC) to increase the business opportunities and income of Fair Price Shops by way of delivery of CSC services through interested Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealers. The MoU was signed by Smt. Jyotsna Gupta, Deputy Secretary (PD) and Shri. Sarthik Sachdeva, Vice President, CSC, in the presence of Shri. Sudhanshu Pandey, Secretary, Department of Food & Public Distribution and Shri. Dinesh Kumar Tyagi, Managing Director, CSC.

For enabling FPSs to work as a CSC Service Centre, CSC has been advised to identify feasible activities like Utility Bill payments, PAN Application, Passport Application, Election Commission Services etc. to facilitate the consumer and simultaneously provide additional income to the FPSs. CSC will tie up with individual State Government for signing up of bilateral MoUs for providing interested FPS dealers access to Digital Seva Portal (DSP) for delivery of CSC services. CSC has committed to undertake sharing of technical know-how and capacity building.

All State Governments have been advised to explore the possibility of increasing income and business opportunities of Fair Price Shop by way of allowing them delivery of CSC Services after due diligence.

In addition, to improve ease and convenience for consumers, ration card services provided by States/UTs such as application for new cards, updating existing ration card, Aadhaar seeding request, status check of ration availability and grievance registration may be explored by States through CSCs as an additional option. This is at the discretion of the State Government who will ensure due diligence regarding data safety, adherence to statutory provision and other relevant guidelines.

28-Feb-2019: Cabinet approves inclusion of Common Services Centres under MEITY as Enrolment Agency for PM-SYM

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved inclusion of Common Service Centres (CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd.) under MeitY as an enrolment agency, and permitting bulk deposits by other Ministries / Departments / Welfare Boards / other agencies of Central and State Governments in lieu subscriber’s share.

Benefits: The approval will enable workers in the Unorganized Sector, to get social security in the form of monthly pension of Rs. 3,000/- on attaining the age of 60 years.

31-Jul-2018: CSC To Register Ayushman Bharat Beneficiaries

Common Service Center (CSC) and National Health Accounts (NHA) signed an MoU to implement the Ayushman Bharat scheme through 3 lakh Common Service Centers (CSCs) across the country. Ayushman Bharat is National Health Protection Scheme, which will cover over 10 crore poor vulnerable families (approximately 50 crore beneficiaries) providing coverage of up to 5 lakh rupees (per family per year) for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization.

The identity and registrations of beneficiaries would be done through CSCs.  CSCs have become a major instrument of change in rural India. CSCs efforts in Ayushman Bharat would be a game changer in our country. CSCs have done great efforts in improving menstrual hygiene of the country through Stree Swabhiman. With continued support of the policy makers there is little doubt that this initiative will help us in building a new rural India having all facilities of urban India and also create a new team of entrepreneurs capable of being active partners in shaping new India.

Through Ayushman Bharat, 50 Cr people would get benefitted with this revolutionary healthcare scheme. The 3 lakh CSCs in 2.5 lakh Panchayat would be a great help in the implementation of the scheme. CSC have played an impressive role in shaping a new economic model for rural populations.

Benefits to Citizens through CSC Centres:

• MoH&FW and CSC SPV came forward to implement the scheme through CSC centres.
• Beneficiary can visit the nearby CSCs across India to get the benefit of this scheme.
• CSCs will help a beneficiary to identify his name in the MoH&FW database and his entitlement for the scheme.
• CSCs will help beneficiary to scan/upload his KYC documents for verification of his/her identity and claim his/her entitlement.
• Beneficiary will have facility to print his/her Ayushman Scheme card through csc centres which will be his base source claim.
• CSCs will also provide requisite information about the scheme and promote it among citizens so that maximum number of beneficiaries can avail the benefit.
• CSCs will get Rs 30 inclusive of tax for supporting beneficiary, identification, documents upload and printing a laminated card.

Envisaged Flow

• Beneficiary will visit nearby CSC centre to get check his/her entitlement for Ayushman Bharat Scheme
• CSC Centre will check entitlement of the beneficiary and upload the requisite details and documents like Aadhaar Card, Ration Card, PAN Number and others.
• CSC Centre will submit the details for verification to approver/state authority for verification and approval.
• MoH&FW has kept a SLA to get this approved in particular timelines and revert on real time basis.
• Beneficiary will get a printed card on a paper from CSC Centre.
• This card can be used at hospitals to claim the benefits under Ayushman Bharat Abhiyan.

4-Jul-2018: Three lakh CSC VLEs to be engaged as Banking Correspondents

CSC SPV, a Special Purpose Vehicle under the Ministry of Electronics & IT, has entered into agreement with HDFC Bank to enable its three lakh Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) managing the Common Services Centers operate  as Banking Correspondents of HDFC Bank. The agreement was signed between Chairman and Managing Director, HDFC Mr. Aditya Puri and CEO, CSC SPV Dr. Dinesh Kumar Tyagi in the presence of Hon’ble Minister of Electronics & IT Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad today at the Ministry of Electronics & IT, New Delhi.

Under the agreement, VLEs of CSC will work as Banking Correspondent of HDFC Bank and support the Government initiative to promote financial inclusion and make banking services more accessible in rural areas. This agreement is expected to be a game changer as it would significantly contribute to Government’s objectives of enabling Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of various schemes. Women, senior citizens and persons with disability will especially get benefitted through this initiative. This will facilitate withdrawal and deposit of government entitlements such as payments under MGNREGA as well as various social welfare schemes like widow pension, handicapped and old age pension, etc.

Congratulating HDFC’s CEO, Mr. Puri on joining hands with India’s digital story Sh. Prasad said that the initiative is a game changer and will significantly contribute to Government’s objectives of enabling financial inclusion and add to the success story of Digital India.

The HDFC BC (CSC) under this arrangement will also function as Business Facilitator (BF). This is a unique facility being extended through CSC by HDFC. This will help and support the citizens, especially merchants, youth, entrepreneurs, farmers and women avail loan facility from the Bank to support in their economic uplift.

Apart from this, HDFC Bank will support CSC SPV in converting 1000 identified villages into Digi Gaon (Digital Villages) within this financial year. CSC SPV is implementing Digi Gaon initiative in rural and remote villages of the country, with the mandate of the Ministry of Electronics & IT, where citizens can avail various online services of the central and State government. In the pilot project, CSC SPV has adopted six villages in the country. The Digi Gaons are positioned to promote rural entrepreneurship and building rural capacities and livelihoods through community participation and collective action for engendering social change through a bottom-up approach with key focus on the rural citizen.

Under its’ commitment to enhancing women’s health and hygiene, HDFC Bank will also support CSC SPV by funding Stree Swabhiman Sanitary Napkin Manufacturing Units. CSC SPV, through its initiative ‘Stree Swabhiman’ is striving to create a sustainable model for providing affordable and accessible sanitary products close to the homes of adolescent girls and women in rural areas. So far 204 sanitary pad manufacturing units have become operational across the country.

The Common Service Center (CSC) Scheme is an integral part of “Digital India” initiative of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India. Currently, close to three lakh VLEs are operational across the country, of which 2.10 lakh are at Gram Panchayat level.

11-Jun-2018: All CSCs across the country will become Business Correspondents of Banks

Union Minister for Electronics & IT, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad launched major services in a conference organized by CSC SPV showcasing the impact and progress made by the Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) in promoting rural Wi-Fi network infrastructure.

The services that were launched are:-

• 5000 Digital Villages in India: Through Wi-Fi facility, people in 5,000 villages can now enjoy Internet connectivity. Wi-Fi Choupal aims to connect 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats in the country through highly scalable network infrastructure i.e. optical fiber cable.
• MoU between CSC and IRCTC: CSC SPV has entered into an agreement with IRCTC for delivery of services through CSC centres. Now, CSC centres will be able to work as IRCTC agents. They would also be able to book general tickets.
• CSR Support by IndusInd Bank: IndusInd Bank is supporting CSC SPV for the digital literacy of 3 lakh candidates through CSR fund. The candidates are also certified under PMGDISHA.

Addressing around 3,000 VLEs from across the country the IT Minister said, “All Wi-Fi Choupals will become knowledge centers in India. In the age of technology, Information is power. Now, no villager should be able to go to cities for the services, as the same can be availed through CSCs.”

Now 2.90 lakh CSCs will be able to work as Business Correspondents (BCs). The expansion of Digital Technology in our country will add 5 % more growth in our GDP. CSC has the potential to change the social fabric of our country.

CSC SPV will become Public Data Office Aggregator. It will develop a powerful content delivery network. Rural India will get benefit of technology advancement and BharatNet will facilitate direct and indirect employment opportunities for many, and can contribute to the inclusive growth of India. The infrastructure created under Wi-Fi Choupal will be a national asset, accessible on a non-discriminatory basis to the service providers. CSC will also be used for first line maintenance of BharatNet in the country.

20-May-2018: Common Service Centres to reach 2.50 lakh gram panchayats by the end of 2018

The network of Common Service Centres (CSCs), which act as access points for delivery of digital services, are set to be expanded to 2.50 lakh gram panchayats by the year-end.

CSC programme has transformed into a movement of change bringing services like banking, pensions, digital literacy, and telemedicine to rural and remote villages through electronic infrastructure.

CSCs are working in 1.8 lakh gram panchayats and very soon it will reach 2.5 lakh gram panchayats by end of the year. In all, as many as 2.91 CSCs operate in the country today. Positioned as strategic cornerstones of Digital India programme, the CSC model has adopted six villages in the country in the pilot phase. About 700 digital villages will be established by the year-end.

DigiGaon or Digital Village is conceptualised as a connected village where citizens can avail various e-Services of the Central Government, State Governments and private players in rural and remote villages in the country. These DigiGaons are projected to be change agents, promoting rural entrepreneurship and building rural capacities and livelihoods through community participation and collective action.

The digital villages have been equipped with solar lighting facility in their community center, LED assembly unit, sanitary napkin unit (with active participation on Asha and Anganwadi workers) and Wi-fi choupal (rural Wi-Fi infrastructure and a slew of suitable applications).

These villages would also have the regular CSC services like banking, health, education, financial services, and a host of other services. In the initial phase villages, Piyala and Dayalpur (in Haryana), Chandankiyari East and Shivbabudih (in Jharkhand) and Dhanauri Kalan and Sultanpur (in Uttar Pradesh) have been chosen for the pilot project.