The scheme’s innovation-driven design has also earned it the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2024, underscoring its impact and governance model.
In a strong endorsement of India’s grassroots entrepreneurship push, the PM Vishwakarma scheme was spotlighted as a transformative model for sustainable livelihoods during a high-level session held at Vigyan Bhawan as part of Civil Services Day 2026 celebrations.
The session, titled “Sustainable Livelihood through PM Vishwakarma”, was organized by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and brought together top policymakers, financial institutions, and implementation agencies to review the scheme’s progress, innovations, and impact.
Highlighting the scale of the initiative, MSME Secretary Shri S.C.L. Das revealed that the scheme has already crossed 30 lakh registrations, positioning it as one of the largest targeted interventions for traditional artisans in India.
He noted that PM Vishwakarma represents a whole-of-government approach, with seamless coordination between the Ministries of MSME, Skill Development, and the Department of Financial Services — ensuring integrated delivery across skilling, credit, and market access.
The scheme’s innovation-driven design has also earned it the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2024, underscoring its impact and governance model.
Chairing the session, Dr. Rajneesh, Additional Secretary and Development Commissioner, MSME, emphasized that the scheme operates through a 100% paperless, end-to-end digital ecosystem, ensuring transparency, efficiency, and ease of access.
The digital backbone enables:
The scheme also incorporates strong marketing and digital support, including participation in national events, e-commerce collaborations, and product promotion under the One Station One Product (OSOP) initiative at railway stations.
Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Ms. Debashree Mukherjee, highlighted that over 23 lakh artisans have completed basic training under the scheme.
She announced the rollout of advanced training programmes aimed at improving productivity, design innovation, and enterprise capabilities — key to helping artisans transition from subsistence livelihoods to competitive businesses.
From a financial inclusion perspective, Shri Manoj Muttathil Ayyappan, Joint Secretary, Department of Financial Services, emphasized the scheme’s collateral-free credit model, supported by interest subvention.
This has enabled artisans — traditionally excluded from formal banking — to access affordable finance. He called for continued efforts to simplify processes further and enhance financial literacy and last-mile banking support.
A standout innovation in implementation has been the role of India Post, as highlighted by Secretary Ms. Vandita Kaul.
Through an e-voucher-based system, more than 15 lakh toolkits have been delivered to beneficiaries across the country — including remote and hard-to-reach areas. The system uses:
This model is now being seen as a benchmark for last-mile delivery in government schemes.
Shri Bharat Khera, Officer on Special Duty (MSME), emphasized the scheme’s unique Guru-Shishya Parampara approach, covering 18 traditional trades.
He noted that PM Vishwakarma is not only preserving traditional crafts but also making them economically viable, encouraging younger generations to take up heritage skills as sustainable professions.
SIDBI Chairman Shri Manoj Mittal highlighted the role of technology in ensuring seamless implementation. A dedicated digital portal has streamlined the entire lifecycle — from enrolment to credit disbursement — enhancing efficiency, transparency, and scalability.
The session concluded with a strong consensus: PM Vishwakarma is emerging as a model of convergence-driven governance, integrating:
This integrated approach is enabling artisans to move from informal, vulnerable livelihoods to formal, sustainable enterprises.
As India pushes toward inclusive economic growth, PM Vishwakarma is being seen as a blueprint for empowering traditional sectors — combining heritage with modern tools, and dignity with opportunity.
The discussions at Civil Services Day reinforced a broader message: sustainable development begins at the grassroots, and empowering artisans is key to building a resilient, self-reliant economy.
