PM Vishwakarma: Empowering Traditional Artisans and Craftspeople Through End-to-End Financial and Skill Support
Distilled Policy Brief
- The Central Sector scheme 'PM Vishwakarma', launched on September 17, 2023, with a total outlay of Rs 13,000 crore for FY 2023-24 to 2027-28, provides end-to-end support to traditional artisans and craftspeople across 18 notified trades in the unorganized sector.
- The scheme offers multi-tiered support including PM Vishwakarma certification, skill upgradation stipend of Rs 500/day, toolkit incentives up to Rs 15,000, and collateral-free enterprise development loans up to Rs 3 lakh at 5% concessional interest rate (with an 8% subvention by GoI).
- Enrollment is restricted to self-employed unorganized artisans aged 18 and above (one member per family), verified through a three-tier process starting at the Gram Panchayat/Urban Local Body level, followed by District Implementation and Screening Committees.
🎯 Prelims High-Yield Examination Points
PM Vishwakarma is a 100% Central Sector Scheme offering up to Rs 3 lakh collateral-free loan in two tranches (Rs 1 lakh for 18 months and Rs 2 lakh for 30 months) at 5% effective interest to 18 traditional trades.
⚖️ Mains Analytical & Syllabus Linkages
Examine the role of the PM Vishwakarma Scheme in transitioning unorganized traditional artisans into the formal MSME ecosystem through financial inclusion, digital enablement, and skill modernization.
🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill
With reference to the 'PM Vishwakarma' scheme, consider the following statements: 1. It is a Central Sector Scheme designed to provide end-to-end support to traditional artisans across 18 notified trades in the unorganized sector. 2. Beneficiaries are eligible for collateral-free enterprise development loans up to Rs 3 lakh at a concessional interest rate of 5%. 3. All working members of an eligible artisan family aged 18 and above can individually register and receive benefits under the scheme. 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: PM Vishwakarma is a Central Sector Scheme covering 18 notified trades, providing multi-tiered support including collateral-free loans up to Rs 3 lakh at a 5% concessional interest rate. Statement 3 is incorrect because enrollment is strictly restricted to one member per family among self-employed unorganized artisans aged 18 and above.
🏛️ 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.