SDG 8: Decent Work & Economic Growth
Institution: Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology | Ministry of Finance
Under the Digital India initiative, Common Services Centres (CSCs) - digital access points run by village-level entrepreneurs under MeitY - have achieved a milestone of ₹3,000 crore in loan disbursals since July 2023. Implemented by CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd. (CSC SPV) in partnership with Piramal Finance, the programme disbursed ₹86 crore in FY 2023–24, ₹1,631 crore in FY 2024–25, and ₹1,300 crore in FY 2025–26 up to August. Nearly 70,000 first-time and small-ticket borrowers, many from rural and unbanked communities, have benefited.
With its network of 5.8 lakh Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs), CSCs provide last-mile delivery of government, financial, and digital services. This lending initiative has helped reduce reliance on informal moneylenders, strengthen household finances, and boost rural entrepreneurship.
This milestone demonstrates the effectiveness of public–private digital platforms in expanding financial inclusion. It shows how CSCs can complement formal banking networks, provide affordable credit in underserved regions, and act as a model for rural financial empowerment.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
How can the CSC–finance partnership model be institutionalised to sustainably expand affordable credit access in rural India?
Follow the full news here:
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2166898