In a landmark move to bring the latest cutting‑edge technology to India’s villages, the Union Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) has announced a free AI‑training initiative aimed at empowering over 10 lakh citizens, prioritizing almost 5.5 lakh Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) who operate Common Service Centres (CSCs). This announcement—made by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at the recently concluded CSC Diwas at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi signifies a bold step toward digital inclusion, economic upliftment, and rural innovation.
Launched during the 16th establishment day of CSCs, the announcement highlights the Common Service Centres network’s reach, which now spans nearly 90% of India’s villages. Since its inception in 2009, the CSC ecosystem has expanded from almost 83,000 centres in 2014 to approximately 5.6 lakh operational centres today in 2025.
Under the IndiaAI Mission, around 10 lakh people will undergo training in AI and related technologies like machine learning, data analytics, and cybersecurity. Of these, 5.5 lakh VLEs will receive priority access, recognizing their integral role in delivering key e‑governance and digital services in rural areas. These VLEs, who serve as middlemen & local players providing Aadhaar updates, financial services, utility payments, health & education services, and agricultural guidance, will now be equipped with necessary AI skills to enhance service quality, operational efficiency, and income generation.
Ashwini Vaishnaw also shared compelling success stories of VLEs overcoming adversity through digital empowerment, as a matter of inspiration for the attendees and future participants of this one-of-its kind program.
Era of AI
The IndiaAI Mission was approved by the Union Cabinet in March 2024 with a budget allocation of around INR 10,300 crore, with an aim to democratize access to computing infrastructure, improve data quality, nurture domestic foundational models, and attract top AI talent. The AI training rollout is slated to begin within the current fiscal year itself, with the Ministry coordinating closely with CSC‑SPV and state partners.
The AI training initiative has multiple goals:
- AI skills will boost VLEs’ ability to offer services like Update Client Lite, online forms, and state-specific platforms, fostering greater local autonomy and earning potential.
- Prioritizing VLEs – which includes around 74,000 women entrepreneurs, with the premise to strengthen gender equity and support distribution of public services in communities.
- Beyond traditional IT tasks, AI-powered capabilities can elevate rural entrepreneurship by enabling personalized agricultural advice, telehealth services, digital education, and small-scale data-driven decision-making thereby promotion skill-based learning.
- There is also a necessity to strengthen cybersecurity, awareness programs, and capacity building in several sectors – agriculture, health, and education.
Digital India Program
Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015, the ‘Digital India’ program aimed to make technology accessible to every corner of the country. Over the last decade, the initiative has effectively bridged the digital divide, transforming governance, promoting financial inclusion, and improving internet accessibility.
The initiative made India, the world’s third-largest digital economy. CSC SPV, established in 2009 under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has emerged as one of the world’s largest digital service delivery ecosystems, featuring over 5.5 lakh operational centres.
Each CSC is operated by a Village Level Entrepreneur (VLE), who acts as a local changemaker and provides citizen-centric services including Aadhaar enrolment and updates, PAN card and passport services, Banking and insurance, Telemedicine and education services and much more. The Artificial Intelligence training will serve as a major skill upgrade and increase their professional competence to a large extent.
