**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 3010 in Lok Sabha concerning the strengthening of the Prime Minister Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Scheme. The document outlines steps taken by the government to expand access to collateral-free loans and enhance digital onboarding for street vendors. The response was due on December 18, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Expansion of Collateral-Free Loans:**
* The government has taken measures to strengthen the PM SVANidhi Scheme.
* The restructured scheme extends benefits to vendors in census towns, urban agglomerations, and peri-urban areas.
* As of November 19, 2025, over 99.07 lakh loans (₹14,595 Cr) have been disbursed to over 68.89 lakh street vendors.
* **Promotion of Digital Onboarding and Cashless Payments:**
* Steps have been taken to enhance digital onboarding and adoption of cashless payments among street vendors.
* Street vendors receive a cashback incentive of up to ₹100 per month for 12 months (₹1200/year) for each loan tranche.
* The restructured scheme provides a cashback of up to ₹100 per quarter for 4 quarters for digital transactions on wholesale purchases of at least ₹2,000.
* ₹242 crore has been released as cashback incentives since the scheme's inception in June 2020 (till November 19, 2025).
* Campaigns like SVANidhi Se Samriddhi/Lok Kalyan Melas are conducted to promote digital adoption.
* **Awareness and Outreach:**
* The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) conducts awareness campaigns using radio jingles, television advertisements, and newspaper advertisements.
* States/UTs are provided with Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) material in local languages.
**Impact Analysis**
**Street Vendors**
* **Impact:** Increased access to collateral-free working capital loans and incentives for adopting digital payment methods. Potential for improved livelihood opportunities and business growth.
* **Action Required:** Participate in the PM SVANidhi scheme, avail of loan facilities, and adopt digital payment methods to benefit from cashback incentives.
**States/Union Territories (UTs)**
* **Impact:** Required to disseminate information about the PM SVANidhi scheme and its benefits to street vendors in local languages.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the IEC material provided by MoHUA to conduct outreach activities and ensure street vendors are aware of the scheme.
**Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for strengthening the PM SVANidhi scheme, conducting awareness campaigns, and providing support to States/UTs.
* **Action Required:** Continue to implement and monitor the PM SVANidhi scheme, conduct awareness campaigns, and provide IEC material to States/UTs for effective outreach.
Key Entities Referenced
PM SVANidhi: Prime Minister Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi, a scheme to provide collateral-free working capital loans to street vendors.
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs: The ministry responsible for administering the PM SVANidhi scheme.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3010
TO BE ANSWERED ON DECEMBER 18, 2025
STRENGTHENING OF PM SVANIDHI SCHEME
NO. 3010. SMT. POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM:
Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government has taken steps to strengthen the Prime
Minister Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) to
expand access to collateral-free working capital loans for street
vendors across the country and if so, the details thereof; and
(b) whether steps have been taken to enhance digital onboarding and
promote the adoption of cashless payments among street vendors
and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
(SHRI TOKHAN SAHU)
(a) Yes. The Government has taken several measures to strengthen the Prime
Minister Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Scheme and
expand access to collateral-free working capital term loans for street
vendors across the country. The restructured scheme provides for
extension of benefits to vendors in census towns, urban agglomerations,
peri-urban areas etc. in a graded manner, thereby creating increased
livelihood opportunities.
As on 19th November, 2025, more than 99.07 lakh loans amounting to
₹14,595 Cr. Have been disbursed to more than 68.89 lakh street vendors
across the country.
Further, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) from time to time
carries out awareness campaigns like broadcasting through radio jingles,
television advertisements and newspaper advertisements. States/Uts are
provided Information, Education and Communication (IEC) material in
local languages regularly for outreach and dissemination of information
on the scheme benefits.
…2/--2-
(b) Yes. Steps have been taken to enhance digital onboarding and adoption
of cashless payments among street vendors. Under PM SVANidhi scheme,
for promoting digital adoption, street vendor beneficiaries are
incentivized with a cashback of upto ₹100 per month for a period of 12
months (maximum digital incentive of ₹1200/year), for every tranche of
loan provided to the street vendor. Further, the restructured scheme
provisions for cashback of maximum ₹100 per quarter for 4 quarters to
street vendor beneficiaries for conducting digital transactions on
wholesale purchases of at least ₹2,000. Since inception of the scheme in
June 2020 till 19th November 2025, an amount of ₹242 crore has been
released as cash back incentive to the street vendor beneficiaries under
the scheme. Campaigns such as SVANidhi Se Samriddhi/Lok Kalyan
Melas, are conducted periodically to increase the number of digitally
active Street vendors.
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