PM Vishwakarma Scheme: Benefits, Eligibility and How to Apply

1. The 18 Trades Covered

The scheme initially covers 18 family-based traditional trades, grouped by the material or type of work:

• Wood based: Carpenter (Suthar), Boat Maker.
• Iron and metal based: Armourer, Blacksmith (Lohar), Hammer and Tool Kit Maker, Locksmith.
• Gold and silver based: Goldsmith (Sonar). Clay based: Potter (Kumhaar). Stone based: Sculptor (Moortikar, Stone Carver), Stone Breaker.
• Leather based: Cobbler (Charmkar) / Shoesmith / Footwear Artisan. Construction: Mason (Raajmistri).
• Others: Basket / Mat / Broom Maker / Coir Weaver, Doll and Toy Maker (Traditional), Barber (Naai), Garland Maker (Malakaar), Washerman (Dhobi), Tailor (Darzi), Fishing Net Maker.

2. Who Is Eligible

According to the Ministry and the official portal, an applicant should meet all of the following conditions:

• Works with hands and tools in one of the 18 family-based traditional trades, on a self-employment basis in the unorganised sector.
• Is at least 18 years old on the date of registration.
• Has not taken a loan under a similar credit-based scheme of the Central or State Government for self-employment or business development (such as PMEGP, PM SVANidhi or MUDRA) in the past five years. The portal FAQs state that those who have fully repaid MUDRA or PM SVANidhi loans may still be eligible; check the current FAQ for your case.
• Only one member of a family can benefit. A family means husband, wife and unmarried children.
• The applicant and their family members should not be in government service.

3. Benefits: Recognition, Skilling and Toolkit

Recognition: every registered beneficiary receives a PM Vishwakarma Certificate and ID Card, which formally identifies them as an artisan in their trade. Skill upgradation: after skill verification, beneficiaries attend Basic Training of about 5 to 7 days (40 hours). They may then opt for Advanced Training of 15 days or more (120 hours). A stipend of ₹500 per day is paid for the training days. Toolkit incentive: a grant of ₹15,000 is provided, now through e-vouchers, to buy modern tools for the trade. It is given after skill verification, at the start of Basic Training. The Ministry has also released trade-wise toolkit manuals listing the recommended tools.

4. Collateral-Free Credit at a Concessional Rate

The scheme offers collateral-free "Enterprise Development Loans" in two tranches through banks and other lending institutions: • First tranche: up to ₹1 Lakh, repayable over 18 months. Available after completing Basic Training. • Second tranche: up to ₹2 Lakh, repayable over 30 months. Available to beneficiaries who have availed the first tranche, maintained a standard loan account, and either adopted digital transactions in their business or completed Advanced Training. The beneficiary pays a concessional interest rate of 5%, with the Government of India providing interest subvention of up to 8% to the lender. No collateral security is required; the loans are covered by a credit guarantee through CGTMSE, and the guarantee fee is borne by the Government. After Basic Training, the loan application is forwarded to the bank, which appraises it and decides on sanction. As with any credit, the sanction and amount remain the lender's decision, and prompt repayment of the first tranche is what keeps the second tranche open.

5. Digital Incentive and Marketing Support

To encourage digital payments, beneficiaries receive ₹1 for each eligible digital transaction, for up to 100 transactions a month, credited to their bank account. Both digital payouts and receipts count, and UPI QR codes help artisans accept payments from customers. Marketing support, backed by a dedicated corpus, covers quality certification, design and packaging, branding and publicity, participation in trade fairs, exhibitions and buyer-seller meets, and onboarding onto e-commerce and procurement platforms such as GeM and ONDC. Beneficiaries can also be onboarded on the Udyam Assist Platform, which gives informal micro enterprises a certificate treated at par with Udyam Registration for priority sector lending.

6. How to Register and Current Enrolment Status

Registration is done through Common Service Centres (CSCs). A CSC operator registers the artisan on the PM Vishwakarma portal using biometric Aadhaar authentication. Keep ready your Aadhaar card, the mobile number linked to it, bank account details and ration card (for family details). Your Aadhaar address should reflect where you currently live and work. Each application then goes through three stages of verification: by the Gram Panchayat head (or the executive head of the urban local body), by the District Implementation Committee, and finally approval by a Screening Committee. Bank account details are verified through NPCI, and SIDBI obtains a credit information report. Once approved, the certificate and ID card are issued and skilling, toolkit and credit follow in sequence. Enrolment status: the scheme was planned for 30 lakh beneficiaries over five years. According to PIB, around 30 lakh artisans had registered by 31 August 2025, and the registration target has since been reported as met. The scheme itself continues to FY 2027-28 for training, toolkits and credit to those already registered. Whether new registrations are open in your area is best checked on pmvishwakarma.gov.in or at your nearest CSC. Registration is free; be wary of anyone asking for money to "guarantee" selection or a loan.