The Centre builds upon a network of medical colleges and their research infrastructure across the country. With this Smart Village Initiative, the Centre has the potential to transform healthcare delivery, empower communities, build research and practice capacity, and establish a robust rural health ecosystem.

The study is in full implementation phase from August 2026 across the six participating sites. This phase builds on evidence generated through the formative, co-design and vanguard phases. Findings from these phases helped identify training needs, research capacity gaps, facility readiness for digital health integration and community-level health needs.

• At the institute level, Training of Trainers (ToT) workshops have been completed and trained faculty members are conducting cascade training within their respective institutions. The LMS-based modules and in-person practical activities for Research Methods, Health Systems Strengthening and Implementation Research, Digital Health, and Environmental Health and Sustainability are being rolled out across the institutes.
• At the facility level, DigiSetu-enabled services have been rolled out at the health centres that enable creation of electronic health records, use the clinical decision-support system to provide standardised care and facilitate specialist tele-consultations.
• At the community level, outreach activities are being conducted to screen eligible adults for hypertension and diabetes, raise awareness, facilitate teleconsultations and referral when required.

Key highlights of the CAR

• Capacity Building: Blended learning models in epidemiology, health systems strengthening, digital health, and environmental health and sustainability through short courses providing an immersive experience
• Co-creation workshops for interventions
• Health system redesign: Needs assessment through formative research;

• • Digital interventions such as assisted telemedicine integrated with decision support system and point of care diagnostic devices.
  • Recommendations for climate resilient health care service delivery

• Community engagement for enhancing health seeking behaviour and improving digital literacy

Settings

• The Centre’s efforts extend across different geographic regions, five Indian states, and six medical institutes.