Parliament Question: Self-employment venture under skill and entrepreneurship schemes

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2197 ANSWERED ON 11.03.2026 SELF-EMPLOYMENT VENTURE UNDER SKILL AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP SCHEMES 2197. DR. ASHOK KUMAR MITTAL: Will the Minister of SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state: (a) whether Government tracks the long-term sustainability of self-employment ventures created under skill and entrepreneurship schemes, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; (b) whether beneficiaries face challenges such as lack of credit, market access or mentorship post- training, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; (c) whether failure rates of such enterprises are documented and reviewed, if so, details thereof and if not reasons therefor; and (d) the measures taken to ensure that entrepreneurship schemes lead to stable income generation? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY) (a) & (b): In order to promote entrepreneurship and self employment ventures, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) implements Entrepreneurship Development Programmes (EDPs) and Entrepreneurship Skill Development Programmes (ESDPs) through its autonomous institutions viz. the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD), Noida and the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati. These Institutes providing end-to-end support to entrepreneurs are designed not only to impart entrepreneurial and managerial skills but also offer robust post-training support through mentorship, handholding and access to incubation facilities. Regular interactions through tele-calling, video calls and physical meetings are conducted on a fortnightly basis for a period of six months after training and it is reported that at least 30 percent of the trainees have successfully started their entrepreneurial ventures. The sustained post-training support helps strengthen the sustainability of enterprises created by the trainees. The entrepreneurial support programmes are aligned with schemes like Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY 4.0), PM Vishwakarma, Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN), Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA), and PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. MSDE also facilitates access to financial credit under various Govt of India’s schemes like Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), Stand-Up India, Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS), Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) and Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS) etc. The market linkages are supported through e-commerce platforms like Government e-Marketplace (GeM) and Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). The Startup India’s MAARG (Mentorship, Advisory, Assistance, Resilience and Growth) portal is a one stop platform to facilitate mentorship for startups across diverse sectors, functions, stages, geographies, and backgrounds. MSDE in collaboration with the Women Entrepreneurship Platform of NITI Aayog, also launched Swavalambini - a Women Entrepreneurship Programme in February 2025 in the North Eastern States of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and also in Uttar Pradesh and Telangana. The programme aims to cultivatean entrepreneurial mindset among female students through Entrepreneurship Awareness Training (EAP) and Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP). (c) & (d): A tiered and structured approach beginning with Entrepreneurship Awareness Programmes (EAPs) and progressing to Entrepreneurship Development Programmes (EDPs), provides the foundational orientation and detailed capacity building support to the beneficiaries. This approach strengthens the sustainability of self-employment ventures, thereby reducing the likelihood of enterprise failure. Both, NIEDBUD and IIE have institutionalized structured mentoring and handholding mechanisms to support aspiring and existing entrepreneurs after completion of training programmes, contributing to effective enterprise establishment and sustainability. MSDE undertakes several initiatives to strengthen the entrepreneurship ecosystem which also supports stable income generation, including access to finance and market linkages. Mentoring and handholding support covers business ideation and validation, project report preparation, selection of enterprise activity, assistance with bank procedures, financial and marketing linkages and support in completing regulatory compliances. Additionally, the Institute supports trainees in participating in trade exhibitions and fairs to showcase their products and services, thereby enhancing their visibility and strengthening sustained market linkages for enterprises. *****