ONDC partners with MEITY’s Common Services Centers for rural e-commerce

Rural e-commerce: Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) has partnered with Common Services Centers (CSCs) for rolling out e-commerce access to rural citizens across India, network said on Wednesday.

Under Ministry of Electronics and Information Techlogy (MeitY), collaboration will integrate CSC's e-Grameen app on ONDC Network as a buyer application, enabling citizens across rural India to access its e-commerce Network, ONDC said in a statement.

As part of ONDC network, CSC will be onboarded in first phase. Users will be able to place orders for essentials via e-Grameen app.

second phase will see sellers registered on CSC platform to receive orders via ONDC network.

CSC, which have over 4 lakh points across India, will furr enable e-commerce access to millions of new users. 

T Koshy, MD and CEO of ONDC said millions of citizens will have access to essential e-commerce services through trusted and widespre network of CSCs. 

“Toger, we hope to tap into entrepreneurial promise of vill-level entrepreneurs to boost rural incomes aligned with Atmanirbhar Bharat vision,” he ded.

ONDC was incorporated in December 2021 under Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Tre (DPIIT) of Union Ministry of Commerce as a facilitator for open networks.

Sanjay Kumar Rakesh, MD and CEO of CSC SPV said this partnership will create a new wave of opportunities to increase e‑retail penetration to its maximum potential in rural India, paving way for inclusive development in far-flung areas of country.

CSCs, on or hand, are access points for delivery of Digital India services to rural and remote areas across country offering assisted access to e-services in India and focusing on enhancing governance.