PM Vishwakarma Scheme | 10 Mar 2025

About PM Vishwakarma Scheme 

• PM Vishwakarma is a Central Sector Scheme launched on 17th September, 2023 to provide comprehensive support to traditional artisans and craftspeople engaged in manual and tool-based work.  
• Eligibility: 
  • The applicant must be an artisan or craftsperson working with hands and tools in one of the 18 family-based traditional trades in the unorganized sector on a self-employment basis. 
  • He/she must be above 18 years at the time of registration and must be actively working in the trade at registration. 
  • He/she should not have availed loans under Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), MUDRA, PM SVANidhi in the past 5 years, except those who have fully repaid. 
  • Only one member per family (husband, wife, and unmarried children) can benefit. 
• Exception: 
  • Government employees and their family members are not eligible. 
• Eligible Trades: 
  • 18 eligible trades include Carpenter, Boat Maker, Armourer, Blacksmith, Hammer and Tool Kit Maker, Locksmith, Goldsmith, Potter, Sculptor, Stone breaker, Cobbler/ Shoesmith/Footwear artisan, Mason, Basket/Mat/Broom Maker/Coir Weaver, Doll & Toy Maker, Barber, Garland maker, Washerman, Tailor and Fishing Net Maker. 
    • The list can be updated and modified by the National Steering Committee with the approval of the Ministry for MSME. 
• Key Features: 
  • Recognition: Beneficiaries receive PM Vishwakarma Certificate & ID Card, enabling access to all scheme benefits. 
  • Skill Upgradation: 
    • Basic Training (40 hours over 5-7 days, Rs 500/day stipend): Covers skill enhancement, modern tool usage, digital transactions, and marketing. 
    • Advanced Training (15 days, Rs 500/day stipend): Focuses on entrepreneurship, modern technology, and business expansion. 
  • Toolkit Incentive: Up to Rs 15,000 provided via e-RUPI/e-vouchers for modern tool procurement, improving productivity and product quality. 
  • Credit Support: Collateral-free loans are provided Rs 1 lakh (1st tranche) and Rs 2 lakh (2nd tranche) in the form of ‘Enterprise Development Loans’ with interest subvention to promote business growth.

• Digital Empowerment: Beneficiaries will receive Rs. 1 per digital transaction, up to 100 transactions per month, credited directly to their accounts for each digital payout or receipt. 
• Market Support: Corpus of Rs 250 crore for quality certification, branding, advertising, 
• publicity and other marketing activities

What is the Implementation Framework of the Scheme?  

• Implementation and Monitoring: 
  • National Steering Committee (NSC): The NSC shall be the Apex Committee constituted by the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises.  
  • The NSC will be empowered to take all major policy and strategy decisions with respect to the implementation of the Scheme and approve any modifications required in the Scheme, like inclusion of further categories of trades.  
    • The committee meeting will be convened at least twice a year for a Scheme-level review, course corrections or to discuss any other agenda as deemed important in the opinion of the committee, as per the requirement. 
  • State Monitoring Committee (SMC):  
    • The SMC shall be responsible for the operational implementation and monitoring of the Scheme at the state level; it will also act as a bridge between the NSC and the field level setup. 
  • District Implementation Committee (DIC):  
    • The DIC shall be responsible for the actual roll–out and implementation of the Scheme at the field level and will coordinate with the State Government and other committees. 
  • Credit Oversight Committee:  
    • The Credit Oversight Committee will be chaired by the Secretary (Department of Financial Services) with members including the Secretary (Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises), a representative from the Secretary (Expenditure), RBI, SIDBI, and CGTMSE.  
    • The Committee will oversee the assured flow of credit to beneficiaries and ensure its proper disbursement. Additionally, it will have the authority to review and revise the interest subvention cap under the Scheme based on prevailing interest rates. 
  • Executing Agencies: Ministry of MSME, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), and Department of Financial Services (DFS). 
  • Monitoring Mechanism: 
    • Programme Management Units (PMUs) at national and state levels for tracking implementation. 
    • Online Monitoring System (OMS) with dashboards to track fund utilization and beneficiary outcomes. 
    • Regular Reviews by NSC and SMC to ensure effective execution. 

What is the Impact of the PM Vishwakarma Scheme? 

• Economic Empowerment: Enhances artisans' productivity, quality, and business scalability through financial support, formal recognition, and improved credit access. 
• Cultural Preservation: Supports traditional crafts while integrating modern skills, digital literacy, and financial incentives to sustain heritage-based trades. 
• Social Inclusion & Gender Equity: Empowers women artisans, particularly in rural areas, and promotes inclusivity by supporting marginalized communities like SCs and STs.