As part of India’s broader AI Mission, the Ministry of Electronics and IT is taking artificial intelligence from big cities to rural India.On the 16th Foundation Day of the CSC scheme, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw made a significant announcement: priority-free AI training for more than 5.5 lakh VLEs nationwide. These VLEs operate the 5.6 lakh Common Service Centres — digital interfaces that bridge citizens to government services in rural and remote locations.

Empowering the Grassroots

The government wants to skill at least 10 lakh Indians in AI, and CSC operators are given priority under the initiative. "We do not want the last-mile digital warriors to be left behind during this wave of AI," Vaishnaw said while delivering his speech at the event.

Bringing AI to Bharat

India's tech adoption narrative has been a top-down saga all along. But this new program has the potential to turn this on its head by bringing cutting-edge technologies such as generative AI to the ground. With CSCs already filling in key gaps in digital governance, adding AI training at this stage may bring about a new generation of rural tech middlemen — addressing local issues with global technology.

Also Read : Connecting 6 Lakh Villages: India’s Digital Leap

Why It Matters

While AI continues to reshape workflows, economies, and opportunities, India's move to bring VLEs under its AI skilling umbrella could be a turning point. VLEs are usually the first touchpoint for digital services in rural India. Empowering them with AI literacy can increase productivity, facilitate hyperlocal innovation, and close the digital divide quicker than ever before.