PM SVANidhi completes one year of restructuring, expanding credit access, digital inclusion, and livelihood opportunities for street vendors
Distilled Policy Brief
- The restructured PM SVANidhi scheme (extended up to March 31, 2030) completed its first year, aiming to support 1.15 crore street vendors with collateral-free working capital, digital inclusion, and capacity building.
- Key initiatives introduced include UPI-linked RuPay credit cards with limits up to ₹30,000, an end-to-end Digital Lending Platform (DLP), Vendor Transfer Modules across ULBs, and the development of 50 Street Food Hubs.
- Under 'SVANidhi se Samriddhi', socio-economic profiling of over 51.15 lakh beneficiary families has facilitated 1.59 crore sanctions across 8 central welfare schemes alongside FSSAI food safety training.
🎯 Prelims High-Yield Examination Points
PM SVANidhi is a central sector scheme launched by MoHUA; it covers urban street vendors including those in Census Towns, offers interest subvention for timely repayment, provides up to ₹30,000 UPI-linked RuPay credit card, and links vendors to welfare schemes via SVANidhi se Samriddhi.
⚖️ Mains Analytical & Syllabus Linkages
Evaluate how PM SVANidhi has evolved from a crisis-response micro-credit mechanism into a comprehensive urban livelihood ecosystem by integrating digital financial inclusion, social security schemes, and formal vending infrastructure.
🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill
With reference to the restructured PM SVANidhi (PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi) scheme, consider the following statements: 1. The scheme expands its geographical reach by extending coverage to Census Towns in addition to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). 2. It introduces UPI-linked RuPay credit cards with a credit limit of up to ₹30,000 for eligible street vendors. 3. It offers financial assistance of up to ₹4 crore per city for the development of Street Food Hubs. 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
All three statements are correct. The restructured PM SVANidhi scheme expanded its reach to Census Towns to provide formal credit to more vendors. It introduced UPI-linked RuPay credit cards with limits up to ₹30,000 and facilitates up to ₹4 crore financial assistance per city to build 50 Street Food Hubs across the country.
🏛️ 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.