PM Vishwakarma Scheme Completes 3 Years; 30 Lakh Traditional Artisans Registered
The PM Vishwakarma Scheme completed three years on September 17, 2026; it was launched on September 17, 2023, to strengthen the skills and livelihoods of traditional artisans and craftspeople. Under the scheme, 30 lakh artisans have been registered following a three-stage verification process, while 24.50 lakh have received skill training and 18.15 lakh have been provided with modern toolkits. So far, loans worth ₹5,297 crore have been disbursed to 6.18 lakh beneficiaries, with an initial loan of up to ₹1 lakh available at a concessional interest rate of 5% per annum. The scheme emphasizes integrating artisans into the formal economy through certification, training, toolkits, concessional loans, incentives for digital transactions, and marketing support.
The PM Vishwakarma Scheme completed three years on September 17, 2026. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched this central sector scheme on September 17, 2023. Its objective is to strengthen the skills, productivity, and livelihoods of traditional artisans and craftspeople by providing them with institutional support.
Registration of 30 Lakh Artisans:
Approximately 30 lakh artisans and craftspeople have been registered under the scheme after completing a mandatory three-stage verification process. The scheme covers artisans associated with 18 traditional trades. This initiative focuses on integrating them into the formal economy and modern markets while preserving traditional skills.
Skill Development and Modern Tools:
Under the scheme, artisans are provided with facilities for basic and advanced skill training, modern tools, and technical capacity building. So far, approximately 24.50 lakh 'Vishwakarmas' have received basic skill training. To enhance productivity, 18.15 lakh advanced toolkits have also been distributed to artisans through India Post.
Concessional Institutional Credit:
A key component of PM Vishwakarma is connecting artisans to the formal financial system. So far, loan assistance amounting to ₹5,297 crore has been provided to approximately 6.18 lakh beneficiaries. Under the scheme, initial loan assistance of up to ₹1 lakh is available at a concessional interest rate of 5% per annum. This helps reduce the reliance of traditional artisans on moneylenders or informal sources of credit.
Key Components of the Scheme:
Under PM Vishwakarma, beneficiaries are provided with the PM Vishwakarma Certificate and ID card, skill training, toolkit incentives, concessional loans, incentives for digital transactions, and marketing support. Thus, the scheme is not limited to financial assistance alone; rather, it seeks to empower artisans through an integrated model encompassing skills, tools, finance, the digital economy, and market access.
Significance for UPSC:
This scheme is relevant to GS Paper-II (Social Justice and Government Schemes) and GS Paper-III (MSMEs, Employment, Financial Inclusion, and Skill Development). It is also significant for UPSC because it links India's traditional art and craft heritage with economic development. It addresses broad themes such as self-reliance, formalization, financial inclusion, digital payments, women and rural entrepreneurship, skill upgradation, and market access for artisans.
