**Executive Summary**
This document provides answers to questions raised regarding the implementation of the PM Vishwakarma Scheme. It outlines policy changes approved by the National Steering Committee (NSC) as of October 10, 2025, mechanisms for reviewing rejected loan applications, verification processes, and post-market access support for rural artisans. The scheme targets the coverage of 30 lakh beneficiaries from FY 2023-24 to FY 2027-28.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **National Steering Committee (NSC):**
* NSC is the apex body for PM Vishwakarma implementation, co-chaired by Secretaries of MSDE, MSME, and DFS.
* NSC meeting on October 10, 2025, approved measures including finalizing eligibility criteria for Advanced Skill Training, revisiting pending applications, and ensuring bank participation in awareness camps sanctioned in 716 districts till March 2026.
* **Loan Application Review:**
* A mechanism exists to escalate and review rejected loan applications.
* DFS has advised banks to obtain written undertakings from beneficiaries declining loans.
* Banks are directed to form committees at the administrative office level to re-contact rejected applicants.
* MSME is working with DFS to improve loan approval.
* Text messages are being sent in 12 regional languages and calls are made to loan applicants.
* Beneficiaries can opt for loans through the PM Vishwakarma portal or Common Service Centres (CSC).
* **Application Verification Process:**
* Three-step verification process: ULB/Gram Panchayat level, District Implementation Committee (DIC), and Screening Committee headed by an MSME DFO officer.
* The process of verification and registration of 30 lakh artisans/craftspeople has been successfully completed under the scheme.
* **Post-Market Access Support:**
* PM Vishwakarma beneficiaries are provided marketing support, including participation in trade fairs and state-level exhibitions.
* Online marketing support via e-commerce platforms such as ONDC, Fabindia, Meesho, and GeM.
* A national level trade fair/exhibition is scheduled in Delhi Haat to promote market linkages.
* MSME plans to ensure value addition of PM Vishwakarma products through design, branding, and packaging.
* MSME will establish PMV Emporium/Haat in prominent cities.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: PM Vishwakarma Beneficiaries (Artisans/Craftspeople)**
* **Impact:** Increased access to loans, skill training, marketing support, and avenues to showcase and sell products. Reduction in EMI burden through lower loan amounts.
* **Action Required:** Opt for loans via PM Vishwakarma portal or CSC, participate in skill training, and utilize provided marketing platforms.
**Stakeholder: Banks**
* **Impact:** Need to review loan application processes, re-contact rejected applicants, and participate in awareness camps.
* **Action Required:** Implement DFS advisories, constitute review committees, and ensure bank officials attend skill training centers for financial advice.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of MSME**
* **Impact:** Responsible for coordinating with DFS to improve loan approval, organizing marketing support, and establishing PMV Emporiums/Haats.
* **Action Required:** Coordinate with DFS, organize trade fairs, design value addition strategies for products, and establish PMV Emporiums/Haats.
**Stakeholder: Department of Financial Services (DFS)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for issuing advisories to banks and working with MSME to improve loan approval.
* **Action Required:** Issue advisories to banks, collaborate with MSME on loan approval processes.
Key Entities Referenced
PM Vishwakarma Scheme: A scheme focused on supporting and upgrading the skills of traditional artisans and craftspeople.
Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME): The primary ministry responsible for the implementation and oversight of the PM Vishwakarma Scheme.
National Steering Committee (NSC): The apex body for the implementation of the PM Vishwakarma scheme.
Department of Financial Services (DFS): Collaborates with the MSME to improve loan approvals under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme.
Delhi Haat: Location for a national level trade fair/exhibition to promote PM Vishwakarma beneficiaries.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2009
TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.12.2025
IMPLEMENTATION OF PM VISHWAKARMA
2009. SHRI SRIBHARAT MATHUKUMILLI:
Will the Minister of MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the proposals or policy changes, if any, put forward by the National Steering
Committee in its recent meetings under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme;
(b) whether there exist mechanisms to escalate and review loan applications rejected at the branch
level and the steps being taken by the Government to re-engage and extend support to applicants whose
loan applications have been declined initially and if so, the details thereof;
(c) the specific timelines that have been prescribed for application verification and approval under the
PM Vishwakarma Scheme at the three verification stages and whether the Government has identified the
stage where delays are most significant and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government provides any post-market access support to rural artisans under the
scheme, helping to sustain and strengthen their linkages with urban and international buyers and if so, the
details thereof; and
(e) whether the Government is planning in this regard and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
(SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)
(a): National Steering Committee (NSC) is the apex body for implementation of the PM Vishwakarma
scheme. Meetings of the National Steering Committee (NSC) are co-chaired by Secretary, Ministry of
Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Secretary, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises (MSME) and Secretary, Department of Financial Services (DFS). The last NSC meeting was
held on 10.10.2025, wherein several proposals and policy measures were approved inter-alia finalizing
eligibility criteria for Advanced Skill Training, measures to improve loan sanctions and disbursements
such as revisiting pending applications, offering lower small-size loans ranging from Rs. 50,000 to Rs.
1,00,000 to reduce EMI burden significantly, ensuring bank participation in awareness camps sanctioned
in 716 districts till March, 2026 and mandating the presence of bank officials at skill training centres one-
day during skill training for financial advice.
(b): Yes, mechanism to escalate and review loan applications rejected at the branch level exists. In
order to address high rejection rates, the Department of Financial Services (DFS) has issued advisory to
banks to obtain a written undertaking from beneficiaries who decline to avail the loan under PM
Vishwkarma. Further, Banks have also been directed to constitute committees at the administrative office
level to review and re-contact the cases rejected due to beneficiaries being unreachable or denying taking
loan. Further, Ministry of MSME is working in close coordination with the DFS, to improve loan
approval under PM Vishwakarma by trying to reach out to maximum number of beneficiaries for availing
loans. Text messages are being sent to PM Vishwakarma beneficiaries in 12 regional languages and calls
are being made from the call center of M/o MSME and various Banks to those beneficiaries who have
applied for the loan and are not reachable or denied taking loan after applying. Also, those beneficiaries
who have initially not opted for loan, can opt for loan through PM Vishwakarma portal either themselves
or through the nearest Common Service Centre (CSC).: 2 :
(c): The applications undergo a three-step verification which includes (i) Verification at Gram
Panchayat Urban Local Body (ULB) level. (ii) Verification (Vetting and Recommendation) by the
District Implementation Committee (DIC) chaired by District Collector (iii) Approval by the Screening
Committee headed by an officer from MSME Development and Facilitation Office (MSME DFO),
member from State/UT level Bankers' Committee (SLBC) and a member from MSDE Against the target
of coverage of 30 lakh beneficiaries approved for a period of 5 years (FY 2023-24 to FY 2027-28), the
process of verification and registration of 30 lakh artisans/craftspeople has been successfully completed
under the scheme so that further benefits such as skill training, loan, toolkit incentive marketing support
etc may be provided to the PMV beneficiaries well within the time frame of PM Vishwakarma scheme.
(d) & (e): Under the scheme, PM Vishwakarma beneficiaries across the country are being provided
with marketing support including participation in trade fairs, state level exhibitions etc to showcase,
display and sell their handicrafts Also, online marketing support is being provided to PM Vishwakarma
beneficiaries through various e-commerce platforms like ONDC Fabindia, Meesho, GeM etc to promote
online sale of their products. A national level trade fair/exhibition in Delhi Haat has been scheduled for
PMV beneficiaries across States/UTs to promote market linkages, display and sale of products, B2B/B2C
engagement for artisans and also to have national/international visibility. Further, Ministry of MSME is
planning to ensure value addition of PM Vishwakarma products through designing, diversification
branding and packaging etc through National Institute of Design (NID) Indian Institute of Packaging
(IIP), Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA). Also, to ensure dedicated sale points of PM
Vishwakarma products, Ministry of MSME is going to establish PMV Emporium/ Haat at prominent
cities, across the country in near future.
****