The PM Vishwakarma Yojana was launched to provide traditional artisans and craftspeople with skill training, modern toolkits and accessible credit. The scheme covers 18 traditional occupations and provides eligible beneficiaries with several financial and other benefits.
The Central Government’s PM Vishwakarma Yojana provides several facilities to connect traditional artisans and craftspeople with modern technology and strengthen their businesses. Eligible beneficiaries receive skill training, a daily stipend, toolkit incentives and collateral-free loans at a concessional interest rate.
For generations, carpenters, blacksmiths, potters, goldsmiths, tailors, cobblers and other traditional artisans in India have met people’s needs through their skills. However, a lack of modern equipment, technical knowledge and financial resources has limited the ability of many artisans to expand their businesses.
The PM Vishwakarma Yojana was launched by the Central Government to economically strengthen these traditional artisans and craftspeople. The scheme focuses on providing skill training, modern tools and loans on easier terms.
The objective is to connect traditional skills with the mainstream economy, improve product quality and help artisans access new markets. Eligible artisans working in both rural and urban areas can benefit from the scheme.
The scheme covers artisans and craftspeople associated with 18 traditional occupations. These include blacksmiths, goldsmiths, potters, carpenters or woodworkers, sculptors and stone carvers, cobblers or shoemakers, tailors, barbers, washermen and garland makers.
The scheme also covers armourers, locksmiths, hammer and toolkit makers, boat makers, basket, mat and broom makers, doll and toy makers, masons and fishing-net makers.
To benefit from the scheme, an applicant must be a traditional artisan or craftsperson who works with their hands and tools and is engaged in the relevant occupation on a self-employment basis. The applicant must be at least 18 years old.
Only one member of a family can benefit from the scheme. For this purpose, the family includes the husband, wife and unmarried children.
The applicant must not have taken a loan under any similar credit-based scheme of the Central or State Government, such as PM SVANidhi or PMEGP, during the previous five years. In addition, no family member should be employed in government service.
Eligible beneficiaries receive an official identity card and a digital certificate under the scheme. To improve artisans’ skills, basic training of 5 to 7 days is provided. Beneficiaries who wish to do so can also undertake advanced training for 15 days or more.
During training, beneficiaries receive a stipend of Rs 500 per day. An e-voucher or grant of Rs 15,000 is also available for purchasing modern tools.
Under the scheme, collateral-free loans of up to a total of Rs 3 lakh are available at a concessional interest rate of 5 percent. In addition, an incentive of Rs 1 is provided for each digital transaction to promote digital payments.
An Aadhaar card is required to apply for the PM Vishwakarma Yojana and must be linked to a mobile number. Applicants also need to provide bank account details, a passbook and the IFSC code.
Applicants must also provide a mobile number, a ration card for family verification, a caste or category certificate where applicable, and information related to their traditional occupation.
Applicants can register for the scheme by visiting their nearest Common Service Centre (CSC). The process requires biometric authentication along with the Aadhaar card and bank details.
The CSC operator then fills out the PM Vishwakarma application form through the official portal. After submission, the application is examined in three stages.
Once the verification process is completed, an eligible beneficiary is issued a PM Vishwakarma digital ID. The process for providing training, toolkit and loan-related benefits then moves forward.
