DAY-NRLM Saras Mela 2026 Debuts in Vijayawada, Empowering 1,500 Women Entrepreneurs and Lakhpati Didis Nationwide
Distilled Policy Brief
- Organized under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission, the event features about 1,500 women Self-Help Group entrepreneurs and Lakhpati Didis from 34 states and union territories.
- The Lakhpati Didis initiative aims to ensure sustainable annual household incomes of at least ₹1 lakh, with the government setting an enhanced target of six million beneficiaries in February 2026.
🎯 Prelims High-Yield Examination Points
Saras Mela is organized under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). The 2026 edition in Vijayawada is the first national Saras Mela held outside the Delhi-NCR region. A Lakhpati Didi is defined as a Self-Help Group member whose family has a sustainable annual income of at least ₹1 lakh assessed over multiple agricultural/business cycles, with a government target of six million announced in February 2026.
⚖️ Mains Analytical & Syllabus Linkages
Examine how decentralized institutional platforms like the Saras Mela and DAY-NRLM enhance market access, branding, and institutional linkages for women-led rural enterprises, thereby advancing the Lakhpati Didi vision and fostering inclusive rural economic growth.
🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill
With reference to the 'SARAS Mela 2026' and related government initiatives, consider the following statements: 1. It is organized under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). 2. The event in Vijayawada marks the first time a national SARAS Mela has been held outside the Delhi-NCR region. 3. The Lakhpati Didis initiative aims to ensure sustainable annual household incomes of at least ₹50,000. Which of the statements given above are correct?
- [A] 1 and 2 only
- [B] 2 and 3 only
- [C] 1 and 3 only
- [D] 1, 2 and 3
▶ Reveal Official Answer & Analytical Explanation
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. The SARAS Mela 2026 is organized under the DAY-NRLM scheme and the event in Vijayawada is indeed the first national SARAS Mela held outside the Delhi-NCR region. Statement 3 is incorrect because the Lakhpati Didis initiative aims to ensure sustainable annual household incomes of at least ₹1 lakh, not ₹50,000.
🏛️ Historical Twin PYQ Anchor (2021)
Consider the following statements regarding the "National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)": 1. It is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 2. Central Pollution Control Board acts as the sole regulatory executive body.