July 11, 2026 7:14 PM

11 years of Digital India: How eSaras is transforming rural livelihoods through digital commerce

As the Digital India programme completes 11 years, one of its most significant success stories is unfolding far from India's metropolitan centres - in villages, small towns and rural communities where millions of women entrepreneurs are using digital technology to transform their livelihoods. At the heart of this transformation is eSaras, a government-backed digital commerce platform that is connecting rural producers directly with customers across the country. Developed by the Digital India Co...

July 1, 2026 3:24 PM

eSARAS: How Digital India is empowering rural women entrepreneurs and bringing India’s handcrafted heritage to national markets

India's rural economy is witnessing a quiet but significant transformation as digital technology reshapes the way traditional artisans connect with consumers. From handwoven Chanderi sarees in Madhya Pradesh and intricately carved marble handicrafts in Rajasthan to exquisite Pashmina products from Jammu & Kashmir, thousands of rural artisans—particularly women organised through Self-Help Groups (SHGs)—are finding new opportunities to expand their businesses through the eSARAS platform. ...