PMGDISHA

Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan

6.9/10

Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan (PMGDISHA) is a Digital Literacy Scheme by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), to make six crore persons in rural areas, across States/UTs, are digitally literate, reaching around 40% of rural households.

Central In Kind

States / UT: All India

Ministry / nodal: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology

Scheme for: Individual

Scheme profile

Scheme open date: 2017-02-01

Categories: Skills & Employment, Education & Learning

Target beneficiaries: Individual

Tags: Digital, Education, Skill, Rural Development

Details

Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan (PMGDISHA) is a Digital Literacy Scheme by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), to make six crore persons in rural areas, across States/UTs, are digitally literate, reaching around 40% of rural households by covering one member from every eligible household.

The Scheme is applicable only to rural areas of the country. Only one person (14 - 60 years of age) per eligible household would be considered for training. Priority would be given to Non-smartphone users, Antyodaya households, college drop-outs, and Participants of the adult literacy mission; Digitally illiterate school students from class 9th to 12th, provided facility of Computer/ICT Training is not available in their schools. Preference would be given to SC, ST, BPL, women, differently-abled persons, and minorities.

The Scheme is aimed at empowering the citizens in rural areas by training them to operate computer or digital access devices (like tablets, smartphones, etc.), send and receive e-mails, browse the Internet, access Government services, search for information, and undertake digital payment, etc. and hence enable them to use the Information Technology and related applications, especially Digital Payments to actively participate in the process of nation building. Thus the Scheme aims to bridge the digital divide, specifically targeting the rural population including the marginalized sections of society like Scheduled Castes (SC) / Scheduled Tribes (ST), Below Poverty Line (BPL), women, differently-abled persons, and minorities.

Benefits

  • 1. The Scheme is aimed at empowering the citizens in rural areas by training them to operate computers or digital access devices (like tablets smartphones etc.) send and receive e-mails browse the Internet access government services search for information and undertake digital payment etc. and hence enable them to use the Information Technology and related applications especially Digital Payments to actively participate in the process of nation building. 1. On average a target of 200-300 beneficiaries per Gram Panchayat is envisaged. The actual target for the Gram Panchayat would be decided by the District eGovernance Society (DEGs) chaired by the District Magistrate keeping in view the size of the district population local requirements
  1. The Scheme is aimed at empowering the citizens in rural areas by training them to operate computers or digital access devices (like tablets, smartphones, etc.), send and receive e-mails, browse the Internet, access government services, search for information, and undertake digital payment, etc. and hence enable them to use the Information Technology and related applications, especially Digital Payments to actively participate in the process of nation building.
  2. On average a target of 200-300 beneficiaries per Gram Panchayat is envisaged. The actual target for the Gram Panchayat would be decided by the District eGovernance Society (DEGs) chaired by the District Magistrate, keeping in view the size of the district, population, local requirements, etc.
  3. Attempts shall be made to provide full Digital Literacy to the villages covered under Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana.
  4. Setting up of the Training Centres in the identified Districts/ Blocks/ Gram Panchayats.
  5. Delivery of content through mobile phones is proposed as a supplementary facility that can be accessed by a large number of neo-IT literates to refresh content learned during the physical training mode.

The Digital Literacy Training Course

Total Duration of the Course: 20 Hours

Broad Content outline:

  1. Module Name
  2. Introduction to Digital Devices
  3. Operating Digital Devices
  4. Introduction to the Internet
  5. Communications using the Internet
  6. Applications of the Internet (include citizen-centric services and; Use of digital financial tools for undertaking cashless transactions)

Learning Outcomes / Competency Standards:

  1. Understand the basics (terminology, navigation, and functionality) of digital devices
  2. Use digital devices for accessing, creating, managing, and sharing information
  3. Use the Internet to browse in an effective and responsible manner
  4. Use technology to communicate effectively
  5. Carry out cashless transactions using digital financial tools (USSD/ UPI/ eWallet/AEPS/ Card/ PoS)
  6. Use Digital Locker
  7. Use online citizen-centric services
  8. Appreciate the role of digital technology in everyday life, social life, and work

The content generation/collation/management/aggregation – the creation of the content bank, etc would be carried out by CSC-SPV in consultation with various stakeholders as per the following:

  1. The content developed for the purpose of digital literacy training would be made available in 22 scheduled languages of India apart from English. A mobile ‘app’ would be made available in 22 scheduled languages so that training content can be downloaded and re-used as and when needed.
  2. For persons who cannot read and write, audio/visual/touch, etc.-based content would be developed. For those who can read and write, textual, structured, audio, video, and applications-based content would be made available. Efforts would be made to design target beneficiaries' specific contents with the use of local/localized resources.
  3. Top citizen-centric schemes as indicated below are included as part of the curriculum: G2C Services (Caste certificate, Domicile certificate, Income Certificate); UIDAI Services; Banking Services; IRCTC Railway Reservation; Insurance; Telephone / Data Card Recharge; Election ID Printing; Electricity Bill Payment; Pan Card; Passport

Eligibility

Target Beneficiaries:

  1. The beneficiary should be Digitally Illiterate
  2. Only one person in a household where none of the family members is digitally literate will be considered.
  3. The age of the beneficiary should be between 14 years and 60 years.

Priority would be given to:

  1. Non-smartphone users, Antyodaya households, college drop-outs, and Participants of the adult literacy mission.
  2. Digitally illiterate school students from class 9th to 12th, provided facility of Computer/ICT Training is not available in their schools.

Preference would be given to:

  1. SC, ST, BPL, women, differently-abled persons, and minorities.

Exclusions

  1. The panchayats which are part of urban agglomerations shall be excluded from the Scheme.
  2. The complete list of cities not to be covered under this scheme can be viewed in the Appendix-I of the scheme guidelines.

How useful is this scheme?

Public benefit analysis

A practical look at this scheme for citizens

AI-generated insights showing how useful, accessible, and practical this scheme may be — combining deterministic scoring rules with a public-policy LLM analyst.

6.9
/ 10
Public Benefit Score
Accessibility 7.0/10 Good
Rural usefulness 9.0/10 Good
Application complexity 4.5/10 Moderate
Financial impact 5.0/10 Moderate
Literacy barrier 2.0/10 Good
Women inclusivity 8.0/10 Good
Awareness 8.5/10 Good
Implementation reliability 7.0/10 Good
Bigger shape means a better fit for citizens
  • Accessibility7.0
  • Financial impact5.0
  • Rural utility9.0
  • Awareness8.5
  • Simplicity5.5
  • Inclusivity8.0

What problem does this scheme solve?

The scheme aims to enhance digital literacy among rural citizens, addressing the digital divide effectively.

Key challenges addressed

  • Lack of digital literacy in rural areas
  • Exclusion of marginalized communities from digital services

Most beneficial for

  • Digitally illiterate individuals
  • Women
  • Scheduled Castes and Tribes
  • Below Poverty Line households

Likely challenges

  • Awareness of the scheme among potential beneficiaries
  • Access to training centers in remote areas
  • Sustaining engagement post-training

Practical insights for citizens

Training centers may not be easily accessible for all eligible individuals.

Rural challenges

  • Limited access to training centers
  • Transportation issues

Digital challenges

  • Low smartphone penetration
  • Limited internet access

Implementation bottlenecks

  • Coordination between various stakeholders

Awareness challenges

  • Lack of information dissemination in rural areas

Application analysis

Application mode
Offline
Documents burden
Minimal, primarily Aadhaar
Verification complexity
Moderate
Office dependency
Moderate, requires local CSC
DBT dependency
None
CSC support
Available
Estimated citizen effort
Moderate, requires travel to training center

Estimated beneficiary reach

  • Rural / urban reach High
  • Gender reach Moderate
  • Target income group Low-income groups
  • Occupation reach All occupations

Benefit analysis

Benefit type
In Kind
Benefit frequency
One-time training
Benefit practicality
High, as it equips beneficiaries with essential digital skills
Financial meaningfulness
0
Long-term impact
Positive, as it enables beneficiaries to access digital services and participate in the economy

Plain-language guidance

This scheme helps rural citizens learn digital skills to use computers and smartphones. It targets those who are not digitally literate, especially women and marginalized groups.

Who should apply
Individuals aged 14 to 60 who are digitally illiterate.
Who may struggle
Those without access to training centers or who have mobility issues.
Best application route
Apply via local CSC with Aadhaar.

This intelligence section is generated by an AI policy analyst combined with rule-based scoring. Scores and narrative are estimates derived from the publicly available scheme information shown on this page; actual experience may vary by state, district, and department. Always confirm details on the official portal before you apply.

Application Process

Offline

The identification of the beneficiaries would be carried out by CSC e-Governance Services India Limited, a Special Purpose Vehicle (CSC-SPV) incorporated under the Companies Act 1956, in active collaboration with DeGS, Gram Panchayats, and Block Development Officers. The list of such beneficiaries would be made available on the scheme portal.

Eligible persons are to be enrolled in the nearest PMGDISHA training Centre using their Aadhaar (UIDAI) number. Unique Username and Password to be provided to the beneficiary.

Clarifications

Additional points from the scheme information published on myScheme (not legal advice).

Who Can Be The Training Partners?

The basic requirements to become a training partner under the PMGDISHA scheme are as follows: A training partner must be an organization registered in India, conducting business in the domain of education/ IT literacy for more than three years and having Permanent Income Tax Account Number (PAN) and audited statements of accounts for at least last three years. The institution/organization should be registered under any act of law in India, e.g., in the case of a company it must be registered with the Registrar of Companies, in case of Society, it must be registered with the Registrar of Societies and so on and so forth. The partner must have clearly defined objectives, and well-documented processes and procedures covering the entire range of education/ IT literacy training.

What Is The Role Of A Training Partner Under The Scheme?

A training partner shall be responsible to own or set up the Training Centres in the identified Districts / Gram Panchayats that would impart digital literacy training to the candidates. A training partner shall be responsible for ensuring that the training centres adhere to the scheme requirements. A training partner shall be accountable for monitoring the overall working of the centres under its purview. A training partner shall be liable for accurate and timely reporting of the aforementioned work ascribed in respect of its Centres. Detailed Norms for the Training Partners shall be as per Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) published by CSC-SPV.

What Is The Training Fees Under PMGDISHA ?

A training fee of Rs. 300/- per candidate is payable directly to respective Training Partners/Centres through CSC-SPV on successful certification of candidates trained by them.

What Is The Payment Process For The Partners ?

The invoice has to be sent printed on the letterhead of the partner and duly stamped. All the necessary details in the invoice should be completed i.e. Invoice number (assigned by the partner), PAN number, service tax number, bank details, etc. Also, an affidavit must also be submitted to the PMU. The address for correspondence is: CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd. 238, Okhla Phase III Behind Modi Mill New Delhi -110020

How Will The Partners Provide Training To The Candidates?

An authorized partner will provide training to the candidates through the training centres. The partner will register the centers on the portal through their login credentials. Upon verification of the training centres by the monitoring organization the login credential are created for the training center. The login credentials will be used to register and train the candidates.

What Is The Duration Of The Training Program ?

The duration of the training program is for 20 hours which has to be completed in a minimum of 10 days and a maximum of 30 days.

How Will The Partners Receive My Login Credentials And How Will I Activate My Account ?

The instructions to activate your account will be sent to your E-mail once you have completed the process and submitted all the relevant documents. If you do not receive an E-mail, kindly check that your E-mail service provider's mailing software is not blocking it. Also, the status of the application can be checked on the www.pmgdisha.in

What Would Be The Tenure Of The Accreditation Of Training Partner ?

The training partner will be accredited for a period of one year under PMGDISHA project and its accreditation will be renewed after accessing the work done during that period.

Is There A Limit To The Number Of States Wherein An Accredited Training Partner May Work Under PMGDISHA ?

Accredited Training Partners would be assigned with a specified area of operation and target preferably within the same state.

Who Should A Training Partner/Centre Contact If It Comes Across Any Challenges During The Implementation Of The Project ?

Any Training partner/center can contact PMGDISHA Toll-Free No: 1800 3000 3468, Email Id : helpdesk@disha.mettl.in

Where Should An Organization Send In The Documents In Order To Become A Training Partner/Training Centre Under PMGDISHA ?

Training Partner/Centre has to send duly filled form (available on our website) and other documents to our Address: CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd. 238, Okhla Phase III Behind Modi Mill New Delhi -110020

Where Can I Check The Status Of My Payment ?

The payment status can be checked through VLEs dashboard.

What Is The Process Of Payment For The CSC Centres ?

Training Centre can raise invoices every month. To generate an invoice click on the tab Invoicing and Payments. Choose the Year/Month/date and click on generate, invoice for that period will be generated. Also, Training Centre can also check the payment history for the past months.

Definitions

  • Eligible Household

References

PMGDISHA Scheme Guidelines (English)
https://www.pmgdisha.in/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/letter_eng_guidlines1.pdf
PMGDISHA Scheme Guidelines (Other Languages)
https://www.pmgdisha.in/guidelines-and-letters/
PMGDISHA Scheme Aadhaar Security Guidelines
https://www.pmgdisha.in/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Aadhaar-Security-Guidelines.pdf
PMGDISHA Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/c/PMGDISHA
PMGDISHA FAQs
https://www.pmgdisha.in/faq/

Apply

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Frequently asked questions

What is the purpose of Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan?
Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan is a government welfare initiative designed to support Individual, Individual through benefits related to Skills & Employment, financial assistance, subsidies, social welfare, healthcare, education, or livelihood support.
Who can apply for Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan?
Eligibility for Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan may depend on factors such as income category, age, gender, occupation, state of residence, social category, and government-defined beneficiary criteria.
What benefits are offered under Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan?
Benefits under Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan may include financial assistance, subsidies, scholarships, insurance support, healthcare benefits, pension support, training assistance, or welfare services depending on the scheme guidelines.
Which department manages Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan?
Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan is managed by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and may be implemented through district offices, online portals, CSC centres, banks, or authorised government agencies.
Can users apply online for Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan?
Yes, eligible applicants may be able to apply online for Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan through official government portals, authorised service centres, or digital application systems depending on the implementation process.
Is Aadhaar mandatory for Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan?
Many government schemes may require Aadhaar verification, identity proof, or linked bank account details for beneficiary validation and direct benefit transfer processing.
Where can users apply for Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan?
Applications for Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan may be submitted through government departments, official scheme portals, CSC centres, district offices, welfare departments, or authorised service centres.
What documents may be required for Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan?
Applicants may need Aadhaar card, income certificate, residence proof, bank account details, caste certificate, photographs, educational records, or occupation-related documents depending on scheme eligibility requirements.
Is income certificate required for Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan?
Income certificate requirements may vary depending on beneficiary category, subsidy eligibility, and financial assistance criteria defined under Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan.
Is Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan a central government scheme?
Yes, Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan is a central government welfare initiative that may be implemented across multiple states through authorised departments and agencies.
Can students apply for Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan?
Eligible students studying in recognised institutions may apply for Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan depending on educational qualification, category, income limit, and academic eligibility.
Is scholarship amount provided under Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan?
Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan may provide scholarship assistance, tuition support, educational reimbursement, or financial aid for eligible students.
Can CSC centres help users apply for Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan?
Many government schemes may be accessible through nearby CSC centres, authorised digital service centres, or welfare facilitation offices.
How can users check the latest updates for Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan?
Users should verify official notifications, department announcements, application deadlines, and eligibility updates through authorised government portals or implementing agencies.
Are there deadlines for applying to Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan?
Some schemes may operate through fixed application windows, annual registration cycles, or department-specific deadlines depending on scheme implementation policies.
Can beneficiaries track application status for Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan?
Certain schemes may provide online application tracking, beneficiary verification systems, or status-check facilities through official portals.
Where can users get help for Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan in All India?
Users in All India may seek assistance through CSC centres, district welfare offices, government departments, agriculture offices, social welfare departments, or authorised facilitation centres.
Which nearby public services may help with Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan applications?
Depending on the scheme, users may require support from Aadhaar centres, CSC centres, banks, hospitals, post offices, or government welfare offices for document verification and application assistance.