PM Vishwakarma — ₹15,000 Grant + ₹3L Loans for Artisans
Ministry of MSME's Central Sector Scheme for artisans: a ₹15,000 toolkit grant, collateral-free loans up to ₹3.1 lakh at 5% interest, skill training with a stipend and market linkages.
- Funding amount
- ₹15,000 – ₹3.1L (debt / loan)
- Funding type
- Debt / Loan
- Provider
- Ministry of MSME (Government)
- Application deadline
- Rolling
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Overview
PM Vishwakarma is a Central Sector Scheme from the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME). It exists for traditional artisans and craft practitioners — people whose livelihood depends on their hands and their tools — and it bundles formal recognition, credit, training and market access into one package instead of offering a single isolated benefit.
The scheme was designed for a five-year run, extending to 2027-28, with the wider aim of bringing the unorganised sector's skilled workforce into the formal fold.
Recognition comes first. Once an applicant clears verification, they are registered as a Vishwakarma and issued a Digital ID, a digital certificate and an ID card. That registration is the key that unlocks everything else, from the toolkit grant to training and marketing support.
The support itself is deliberately practical: money to upgrade tools, low-cost credit to expand an enterprise, training that mixes traditional craft with modern technique, an incentive to shift towards digital payments, and hand-holding on branding and market access through the National Committee for Marketing.
Applications run on a rolling basis, so there is no window to wait for.
Highlights
- Toolkit grant of ₹15,000 that does not need to be repaid
- Collateral-free Enterprise Development Loans up to ₹3.1 lakh, across two tranches
- Concessional 5% interest with interest subvention and credit guarantee fees covered by the government
- Training stipend of ₹500 per day for basic and advanced courses
- ₹1 per digital transaction, up to 100 transactions a month
- Rolling applications — no fixed last date
Who can apply
This scheme is built for working artisans, not for companies or tech startups. An applicant has to satisfy every one of the following conditions:
- Trade: the work must be done with hands and tools, and must fall within one of the 18 traditional trades that the scheme treats as family-based.
- Sector and status: the person must be working in the unorganised sector and be self-employed.
- Age: at least 18 years on the date of registration.
- Active practice: the applicant must still be engaged in that trade when registering.
- No overlapping credit: no loan should have been taken in the past five years under a comparable credit-based self-employment or business development scheme of the Central or a State Government. PMEGP, PM SVANidhi and Mudra are named examples.
- One per family: registration and benefits are limited to a single member of a family.
PM Vishwakarma — ₹15,000 Grant + ₹3L Loans for Artisans is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Deadline & timing
PM Vishwakarma — ₹15,000 Grant + ₹3L Loans for Artisans accepts applications on a rolling basis — there is no fixed cut-off date, so eligible startups can apply at any time. Because rolling programmes can pause without notice, confirm the window is still open on the official site before you start.
What the funding covers
PM Vishwakarma mixes a cash grant, concessional credit and paid training in one package.
- Toolkit incentive: a ₹15,000 grant that does not need to be repaid, meant for buying modern tools for the trade.
- Enterprise Development Loans: collateral-free credit of up to ₹1,00,000 in the first tranche, repayable across 18 months, and up to ₹2,00,000 in the second tranche, repayable across 30 months.
- Cost of credit: the loans carry a concessional 5% rate, and the Ministry of MSME extends interest subvention capped at 8%. Credit guarantee fees are borne by the government as well, so nothing has to be pledged as security.
- Training stipend: ₹500 per day while attending basic training of 5-7 days and an advanced course of 15 days.
- Digital transaction incentive: ₹1 per transaction, for up to 100 transactions a month.
Beyond the money, beneficiaries receive formal recognition as a Vishwakarma through a Digital ID and certificate, skill upgradation training, and marketing support routed through the National Committee for Marketing (NCM) — quality certification, branding, promotion, e-commerce linkages and participation in trade fairs.
About the provider
PM Vishwakarma — ₹15,000 Grant + ₹3L Loans for Artisans is offered by Ministry of MSME, a government body. As a government-backed debt / loan, it is publicly funded and open to eligible startups across India. You can verify current details and timelines on the provider's official website before applying.
How to apply
Applications are submitted on the . Confirm the current deadline and document checklist there before you start.
Selection process
Enrolment happens through a Common Service Centre rather than directly on your own, and each application passes through three verification gates before any benefit is released.
Step 1 — Enrolment at a CSC. Go to the nearest Common Service Centre and register on the PM Vishwakarma portal using the 'CSC - Register Artisans' login. Answer the eligibility questions, then complete Aadhaar verification by entering the 6-digit OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number, followed by your Aadhaar number and registered mobile number.
Step 2 — Biometric verification. Your biometrics are captured at the CSC.
Step 3 — Online application form. Fill in every mandatory field and submit. Note down the Application Number that is generated, since you will need it later.
Step 4 — Three-stage verification. Eligibility is checked first at the local level — the Gram Panchayat for rural applicants and the Urban Local Body (ULB) for urban ones. The application is then vetted and recommended by the District Implementation Committee. Final approval rests with the Screening Committee, which confirms that the eligibility criteria have been satisfied.
Step 5 — Disbursal and recognition. Once the three steps are cleared, the applicant is formally registered as a Vishwakarma and receives a Digital ID, the PM Vishwakarma Digital Certificate and an ID Card, which together make every scheme benefit available.
Documents you’ll need
Before you apply to PM Vishwakarma — ₹15,000 Grant + ₹3L Loans for Artisans, keep the following documents ready:
- A pitch deck or short business plan describing the problem, product and traction
- Company registration documents and PAN
- Founder identification (PAN / Aadhaar) and brief profiles
- Recent financial statements or projections
- Product details — a demo, prototype or working link if available
Exact requirements are confirmed on the official application portal — treat this as a preparation checklist.
Who this is best for
PM Vishwakarma — ₹15,000 Grant + ₹3L Loans for Artisans is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹15,000 – ₹3.1L. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.
Frequently asked questions
How much funding does PM Vishwakarma actually provide?
A beneficiary can get a ₹15,000 toolkit grant plus collateral-free Enterprise Development Loans of up to ₹1,00,000 in the first tranche and ₹2,00,000 in the second — roughly ₹3.1 lakh in credit in total. Training days carry a stipend of ₹500 per day, and digital transactions earn ₹1 each, up to 100 a month.
Is the money a grant, a loan, or does the scheme take equity?
It is a combination of a grant and debt, with no equity involved. The ₹15,000 toolkit incentive never has to be returned, while the Enterprise Development Loans are repaid over 18 months (first tranche) or 30 months (second tranche). The government does not take any ownership stake in your business, so nothing is diluted.
Who is eligible to apply?
You must be an artisan or craftsperson whose work is done with hands and tools in one of the 18 traditional trades recognised as family-based under the scheme. You need to be operating in the unorganised sector on a self-employment basis, be at least 18 years old at registration, and still be practising the trade on the day you register.
Is there an application deadline?
No. PM Vishwakarma runs on a rolling basis, so applications are accepted throughout the year rather than against a fixed closing date. You can begin enrolment at a Common Service Centre whenever you are ready.
What interest rate applies on the loans?
The Enterprise Development Loans are offered at a concessional 5% rate. The Ministry of MSME provides interest subvention capped at 8%, and credit guarantee fees are also borne by the government. Because the loans are collateral-free, no assets need to be pledged against them.
Can two members of the same family both enrol?
No. Registration and benefits under PM Vishwakarma are restricted to one member of a family, so a single household cannot claim the scheme twice.
I already have a Mudra or PMEGP loan. Can I still apply?
That depends on timing. Applicants who have availed loans in the past five years under similar credit-based self-employment or business development schemes of the Central or State Government are excluded — PMEGP, PM SVANidhi and Mudra are the named examples. If your loan falls outside that five-year window, this restriction does not apply.
What do I need for registration?
Enrolment starts at your nearest Common Service Centre. You will need your Aadhaar number and the mobile number linked to your Aadhaar, because verification uses a 6-digit OTP sent to that number. Biometrics are captured at the CSC, and the online form requires all mandatory fields to be filled in. Keep the Application Number generated on submission for tracking.
What happens after I submit the application?
Your application goes through three verification stages. Eligibility is checked at the Gram Panchayat or Urban Local Body level, then the District Implementation Committee vets and recommends it, and finally the Screening Committee gives approval once the eligibility criteria are met. After that you are registered as a Vishwakarma and issued your Digital ID, Digital Certificate and ID Card.
What non-financial benefits come with the scheme?
Alongside the money, beneficiaries receive formal recognition as a Vishwakarma, skill upgradation training at both basic and advanced levels, support for acquiring modern tools, incentives for digital transactions, and marketing assistance through the National Committee for Marketing — covering quality certification, branding, promotion, e-commerce linkages and trade fair participation.
Where do I apply?
Applications are made through the official scheme portal at https://pmvishwakarma.gov.in/, using the 'CSC - Register Artisans' login, with biometric verification completed at a Common Service Centre.
Is DPIIT recognition required for PM Vishwakarma — ₹15,000 Grant + ₹3L Loans for Artisans?
No. DPIIT (Startup India) recognition is not listed as a mandatory requirement for PM Vishwakarma — ₹15,000 Grant + ₹3L Loans for Artisans, though having it can strengthen your application and unlock other benefits.
Who offers PM Vishwakarma — ₹15,000 Grant + ₹3L Loans for Artisans?
PM Vishwakarma — ₹15,000 Grant + ₹3L Loans for Artisans is offered by Ministry of MSME, a government body. It is provided as non-dilutive funding.
How do I apply for PM Vishwakarma — ₹15,000 Grant + ₹3L Loans for Artisans?
Apply directly through the official application link on this page. Review the eligibility criteria and prepare your startup documents before you begin.
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