New Delhi: The government said the PM Vishwakarma scheme and several MSME programmes are supporting women artisans and entrepreneurs through training, credit access and marketing assistance.
According to official data on the Udyam Registration Portal and Udyam Assist Platform, 3,07,42,621 women-led enterprises were registered as of February 28, 2026.
The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises implements the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises. The scheme provides collateral-free loans through the Credit Guarantee Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises.
Women-led micro and small enterprises receive enhanced credit guarantee coverage of 90 percent under the scheme. In comparison, the general coverage remains 75 percent.
In addition, women entrepreneurs receive a 10 percent relaxation in the guarantee fee.
PM Vishwakarma scheme strengthens skills and marketing support
The PM Vishwakarma scheme provides capacity-building support to artisans and craftspeople through skill training programmes.
Beneficiaries receive basic skill training for five to seven days. They also undergo advanced training programmes lasting 15 days or more.
The training includes entrepreneurial orientation, financial literacy and digital literacy. It also covers the use of modern tools and equipment related to different trades.
The scheme also offers marketing support. Artisans receive assistance for onboarding on e-commerce platforms along with branding and product promotion.
Under the Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries, the government also conducts cluster-based training and capacity-building programmes.
These interventions include awareness programmes, counselling, skill training and digitisation of training modules. The scheme also supports product development, technology upgrades and participation in workshops.
The government has also launched measures to increase women’s participation in manufacturing and service-based micro enterprises.
Public Procurement Policy mandates that central public sector enterprises and ministries procure at least 3 percent of goods from women entrepreneurs.
Under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme, women beneficiaries receive higher subsidies of up to 35 percent for setting up micro enterprises.
Other initiatives include the Skill Upgradation and Mahila Coir Yojana under the Coir Vikas Yojana, which focuses on skill development of women artisans in the coir sector.
The government also provides full subsidy for women entrepreneurs to participate in trade fairs under the Procurement and Marketing Support Scheme.
In addition, the Yashasvini campaign promotes awareness about MSME schemes among existing and aspiring women entrepreneurs.
Minister of State for MSME Shobha Karandlaje shared the information in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
