New Delhi, September 17 (APAC Media): The PM Vishwakarma scheme has reached its target of 30 lakh registered artisans and craftspeople, nearly three years after its launch on September 17, 2023.
The Rs 13,000-crore Central Sector Scheme supports traditional artisans through skill training, modern toolkits, collateral-free loans, digital incentives, and market access.
As of September 15, 2026, more than 24.37 lakh artisans had completed basic training, while over 18.16 lakh had received toolkits.
Benefits of PM Vishwakarma
After registration and verification, beneficiaries receive a PM Vishwakarma Certificate and ID Card. The scheme offers:
- Basic training for five to seven days
- Advanced training for 15 days or more
- Rs 500 daily training stipend
- Toolkits worth up to Rs 15,000
- Collateral-free loans of up to Rs 3 lakh
The loans are provided in two tranches. The first offers up to Rs 1 lakh for 18 months, while the second provides up to Rs 2 lakh for 30 months. The interest rate is 5%, with government interest subvention of up to 8%.
More than 6.19 lakh loans worth around Rs 5,316 crore have been sanctioned so far.
Beneficiaries can also receive Rs 1 per eligible digital transaction, subject to a maximum of 100 transactions a month. More than 8.11 lakh beneficiaries have received over Rs 42 crore through this incentive.
Who Can Apply and Which Trades Are Covered?
PM Vishwakarma covers 18 traditional trades, including carpenters, goldsmiths, potters, masons, cobblers, tailors, barbers, locksmiths, sculptors, basket and mat makers, doll and toy makers and fishing-net makers.
Applicants must be 18 years or older, self-employed and working with their hands and tools in one of the notified trades in the unorganised sector.
Only one member of a family can register. Government employees and their family members are excluded, while those who have taken similar government-backed business loans in the preceding five years are generally not eligible.
Fully repaid MUDRA and PM SVANidhi borrowers can apply.
From Training to Wider Markets
The scheme has also expanded market opportunities through trade fairs, exhibitions and e-commerce platforms. More than 30,000 beneficiaries have been onboarded onto platforms including GeM, ONDC, Meesho, Amazon, Fabindia and Sulekha.
An IIM Mumbai evaluation covering 11,591 beneficiaries found that 93% of surveyed beneficiaries reported a moderate to significant increase in income after training.
The programme also supports technology adoption, with more than 12,000 artisans trained in AI tools for branding, product design, packaging, and marketing.
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