PM Vikas Scheme (PM VIKAS)

PM Vikas Scheme is a Central Sector programme of the Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) launched on 23 June 2025. It converges five earlier livelihood schemes—Seekho aur Kamao, USTTAD, Hamari Dharohar, Nai Roshni and Nai Manzil—into one integrated framework that nurtures skills, entrepreneurship, education and cultural heritageamong India’s notified minority communities (Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Parsis).

Why was the PM Vikas Scheme launched?

• Minority communities face fragmented skilling support, limited finance/markets, and informal employment.
• Many are artisans or nano-entrepreneurs whose livelihoods depend on traditional crafts with low market access.
• Education gaps (school dropouts) and women’s participation barriers further reduce employability.
• PM Vikas Scheme offers a single window to address skilling, certification, market/credit linkages, women leadership, and bridge education, while preserving intangible cultural heritage (ICH).

Key Objectives

• Build capacity of minorities via need-based skill training and ensure employment/livelihoods.
• Preserve & promote traditional arts/crafts and ICH; enable documentation, GI efforts, tourism linkages.
• Provide open schooling up to Class 8/10/12 for school dropouts (through NIOS/approved bodies).
• Empower women with leadership, entrepreneurship and Biz Sakhi (mentor) tracks.
• Improve employability through market & credit linkages (NMDFC, banks/NBFCs) and formal placements.

Scheme Structure: Three Big Pillars

1) Skilling & Training

a) Traditional Training sub-component

• NSQF-aligned training for arts/crafts; develop new job roles if not available.
• Customized workshops for design, packaging, e-commerce onboarding, financial literacy, export basics.
• ICH preservation: documentation (incl. digital), calligraphy/manuscripts, oral traditions, cultural events, heritage tourism linkages; facilitate GI tags.

b) Non-Traditional Skilling sub-component

• Placement-linked, NSQF/NCVET courses across sectors (handicrafts, tourism/hospitality, agri/food processing, handlooms, services, etc.).
• Soft skills: digital & financial literacy, English, communication/storytelling.
• Placement target: ≥75% of trained beneficiaries placed (wage/self/apprenticeship); ≥50% in organized sector as per norms.
• For highly informal/self-employment sectors, up to 100% self-employment may be allowed (as per MoMA instructions).

2) Women Leadership & Entrepreneurship

• Leadership & Basic Entrepreneurship modules: confidence, govt/banking interface, digital literacy, legal rights, hygiene & health, disaster management, advocacy.
• 50% of trained women receive intensive entrepreneurship (≈120 hours).
• 10% of those become Business Mentors/Correspondents—“Biz Sakhis/Udyami Mitras” (≈240 hours) to handhold new entrepreneurs and scale local enterprises.
• Career counselling for all interested; ≥15% assisted to education/skills/jobs.
• Enterprise set-up via credit & market linkages (NMDFC, banks/NBFCs); promotion of individual/group enterprises.

3) Education Support (Bridge Schooling)

• Mainstream school dropouts (priority to artisan families).
• Enrol ≥50% women into open schooling (Class 8/10/12) via NIOS/approved bodies.
• Aim for ≥40% pass rate through coaching + assessment support.

Infrastructure & Convergence

• Leverage existing facilities created under PMJVK (Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram)—MoMA’s infra scheme for minority-concentrated areas.
• New infra only where required; states can seek support under PMJVK following guidelines.
• Convergence with Central/State schemes and tourism initiatives (including Vibrant Villages, culture/eco/religious tourism) to monetize heritage crafts.

Eligibility (Beneficiaries)

• Indian nationals from notified minority communities (NCM Act, 1992).
• State-notified minorities may be considered (up to 5% seats) with state endorsement.
• Aadhaar & Aadhaar-linked bank account (PIA must help arrange if missing).
• Age:
  • 14–45 years for Traditional/Non-traditional Skilling and Education components.
  • 18–45 years for Women Leadership & Entrepreneurship.
• Reservations/targets:
  • Women: ≥33% (traditional & non-traditional skilling), ≥50% (education).
  • Women Leadership & Entrepreneurship: exclusively for women.
  • PwDs: 3% across components.
  • To foster social cohesion, up to 25% non-minority (EWS) in Traditional Training and 15% (EWS) in other components may be included at scheme level.
  • Vacant reserved seats can be treated as unreserved.

Who can implement PM Vikas Project?

Project Implementing Agencies may include: minority institutions, industry bodies, PSUs, Central/State institutions, central universities, institutions of national importance.
Must have:

• ≥3 years incorporation; NGO-Darpan registration; credible grassroots skilling/education/entrepreneurshipexperience (preferably with minorities); good placement/education track record; no blacklist status.

How does PM Vikas Scheme help artisans & nano-entrepreneurs?

• Skill upgrades in traditional crafts (NSQF-aligned).
• Market access via buyer–seller meets, Parvs (community events), design/quality upgrades, e-commerce onboarding.
• Credit via NMDFC and banks/NBFCs; promotion of group enterprises.
• Cultural tourism & GI facilitation to turn heritage into sustainable income.

Link to SDGs

• SDG-1: End poverty through livelihoods and credit.
• SDG-5: Gender equality via women leadership & entrepreneurship.
• SDG-8: Decent work & economic growth via placement-linked skilling.
• SDG-10: Reduced inequalities through targeted support to minorities.

Quick Revision

• Name: PM VIKAS – Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan.
• Focus: Skill, Entrepreneurship, Education, Heritage for minorities.
• Type: Central Sector (MoMA), aligned to 15th FC cycle up to 2025-26.
• Launch date: 23 June 2025.
• Women focus: Leadership, Biz Sakhi mentorship, ≥50% female enrolment in education, strong female targets in skilling.
• Placement metric: ≥75% overall; ≥50% in organized sector (as per norms).
• Convergence: PMJVK for infra; NMDFC/banks for credit; tourism & GI for market value.

How this differs from earlier schemes

Instead of five separate programmes, PM Vikas Scheme gives one integrated pipeline: identify beneficiaries → skill (traditional/non-traditional) → certify (NSQF/NIOS) → credit + market linkages → placements/self-employment → mentor network (Biz Sakhis). This reduces overlap, speeds delivery, and improves outcomes.

FAQs on PM Vikas Scheme

The PM Vikas Scheme is not just a skilling programme—it’s a complete livelihood ecosystem for minority communities: skills + certificates + finance + markets + mentors. By elevating women leaders, upgrading traditional crafts, and opening new-age job roles, the scheme builds dignified work and inclusive growth, aligning with Viksit Bharat and the SDGs.

Source: Ministry of Minority Affairs