Aamar Dukan On Wheels — Assam Grant for Mobile Retail Youth — Frequently Asked Questions

It is a mobile retail scheme launched by the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department of the Government of Assam. An authorised beneficiary operates a moving shop built on an eco-friendly E-rickshaw and sells essential non-PDS commodities to households below MRP. It is a new module of the state's existing Aamar Dukan initiative.

The scheme offers financial aid to selected beneficiaries to set up and start operating their mobile unit, and the amount is described as varying rather than fixed at a single published figure. The aid is non-repayable as long as the beneficiary complies with the scheme's rules; it must be returned with interest if those rules are broken. Beyond the aid, the real earning comes from the permitted margin on sales.

You must be an educated but unemployed young person, a permanent resident of Assam, at least 18 years old, registered with the Employment Exchange, and educated to at least HSLC level or its equivalent. All of these conditions apply together.

Employment Exchange registration is compulsory — your name must appear on the register. DPIIT recognition is not part of the eligibility criteria, since the scheme selects individuals for a livelihood opportunity rather than funding a registered startup or company.

There is no single central deadline. Applications run on a rolling, always-open basis, with Deputy Commissioners, Sub-Divisional Officers and the Principal Secretaries of Autonomous Councils inviting applications in their areas. Watch for the invitation issued by the authority covering your district or council area.

Operators are allowed to retain a profit margin of ₹2.00 to ₹3.00 per kg or per litre on the commodities they sell. On top of that, the state's financial aid covers setup and initial operation, so the unit does not have to fund itself from day one.

It is neither. The scheme is a grant-type financial aid that does not take equity in the business and does not have to be repaid during normal, compliant operations. The repayment (with interest) obligation arises only if the beneficiary violates the scheme's rules or directions.

Beneficiaries have to operate in the area and according to the schedule fixed by local authorities, display price boards, procure commodities from the wholesalers or stockists they are directed to use, and keep stock books and distribution registers up to date for inspection. Any lapse is treated seriously and can lead to cancellation of the operating licence, legal action, and recovery of the financial aid along with interest.

Selection is merit-based and handled by a committee of Deputy Commissioners, Sub-Divisional Officers and Principal Secretaries of the Autonomous Councils. The committee looks at educational qualifications, any relevant prior experience, and the applicant's financial condition before picking the beneficiaries.

Applications are not submitted to a central portal. Local authorities — Deputy Commissioners, Sub-Divisional Officers and Autonomous Council Principal Secretaries — invite applications and issue the submission instructions, so candidates must apply in the manner those authorities specify. Scheme details are published at https://fcsca.assam.gov.in/schemes/aamar-dukan-on-wheels.

Aamar Dukan On Wheels — Assam Grant for Mobile Retail Youth is offered by Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, Government of Assam, a government body. It is provided as non-dilutive funding.