Plain-English guide · Last reviewed: September 2026
Quick facts
Item Detail Full name PM Vishwakarma Yojana Launched 17 September 2023 (Vishwakarma Jayanti) Type Central Sector Scheme For whom Artisans & craftspersons in 18 traditional trades Training stipend ₹500 per day during skill training Toolkit incentive Up to ₹15,000 (e-voucher / e-RUPI) Loans ₹1 lakh (1st tranche) + ₹2 lakh (2nd tranche), collateral-free, ~5% interest Official portal pmvishwakarma.gov.in
Carpenters, blacksmiths, potters, tailors, barbers, masons — India’s traditional artisans keep the economy running, but most struggle to get training, modern tools, and bank loans.
PM Vishwakarma Yojana is the government’s answer: a single package that provides artisans with an identity card, free skill training with a daily stipend, a grant to buy tools, and low-cost loans — all without collateral.
This guide explains everything in plain English.
1. What is PM Vishwakarma Yojana?
PM Vishwakarma is a Central Sector Scheme launched on 17 September 2023 to support artisans and craftspersons who work with their hands in 18 traditional trades [Source: pmvishwakarma.gov.in]. It is implemented by the Ministry of MSME, with the scheme’s full name honoring Vishwakarma — the divine architect of Indian tradition.
The scheme is different from a simple loan or a training program: it combines identity, skills, tools, credit, and market support into one package, so a working artisan can upgrade from hand tools to modern equipment and grow a proper business. The scheme aims to reach around 30 lakh artisans across the country.
2. Which trades are covered? (18 traditional trades)
The scheme covers manual trades, including: carpenter, blacksmith, goldsmith, potter, sculptor, stone breaker, cobbler (shoemaker), mason, tailor, barber, washerman (dhobi), locksmith, basket and broom maker, doll and toy maker, garland maker, boat maker, fishing net maker, armorer, and hammer-tool kit maker.
The exact official list (classified under 18 trades) is published in the Trade Handbook on the PM Vishwakarma website — check it alongside the FAQ pages if your trade is unusual.
3. What are the full benefits?
| Benefit | What you actually get |
|---|---|
| Identity | Official PM Vishwakarma certificate + identity card — proof of your skill that banks and buyers trust |
| Skill training | Basic training (5–7 days) + advanced training (15 days or more) at recognized centers, with a ₹500 per day stipend while you train |
| Toolkit incentive | Grant of up to ₹15,000 as an e-voucher (e-RUPI) to buy modern tools, given at the start of basic training after skill verification |
| Loans (tranche 1) | Collateral-free loan of up to ₹1 lakh, repayable over 18 months, at about 5% interest |
| Loans (tranche 2) | Skilled beneficiaries who repay well (standard loan account) and use digital payments can take a second loan of up to ₹2 lakh, repayable over 30 months, also collateral-free at ~5% |
| Digital incentive | A small monthly incentive for digital transactions (official FAQ terms; verify the current amount on the portal) |
| Marketing support | Branding and market-linkage help so artisans can sell more — including access to government procurement platforms like GeM |
Sources: pmvishwakarma.gov.in · pmvishwakarma.gov.in — FAQ · myScheme.
4. Who is eligible?
- You must be an Indian citizen aged 18 or older.
- You (or a family member) must already be working in one of the 18 trades — the scheme supports existing artisans, not people starting from zero knowledge.
- One beneficiary per family — the certificate comes in the family’s name.
- Applicants are checked for conditions such as: not being a government/PSU employee, not being an income-tax payer, and not having availed similar benefits from another credit scheme — the official portal’s eligibility check determines this, so read the FAQ there for the exact conditions.
- Both men and women artisans can apply — the scheme is fully open to women in these trades.
5. What documents do you need?
- Aadhaar card
- Bank account details (for stipend and loan disbursal, and digital-transaction incentives)
- Proof of age (from Aadhaar/other ID)
- Passport-size photo
- Trade/Work proof — evidence that you practice the trade (e.g., certificates, work samples, or local verification)
💡 Related reading: Complete document checklist for government schemes · What to do if your application is rejected
6. How to apply — step by step
- Go to the official portal pmvishwakarma.gov.in and open the registration/application page.
- Self-register using your mobile number (OTP), then fill out the application with your Aadhaar and trade details.
- Local verification — your village/local authority (gram panchayat, municipality, block office) verifies that you genuinely work in the trade.
- Get your certificate & ID card once verification passes — this unlocks all further benefits.
- Skill training at recognized centers, with the ₹500/day stipend; the ₹15,000 toolkit e-voucher follows after skill verification.
- Apply for the loan at impanelled banks or through Common Service Centers (CSC) using your certificate — tranche 1 (₹1 lakh); after regular repayment and digital usage, tranche 2 (₹2 lakh).
Need help with the online form? Common Service Centres (CSCs) assist with PM Vishwakarma applications in both rural and urban areas — they are the government’s official assistance points for digital applications (you pay only the CSC’s nominal service charge, never “agent commissions”).
7. How to check your application status
Log in on pmvishwakarma.gov.in with your registered mobile to track: application → verification → certificate → training → toolkit → loan. If a step is stuck, contact your local CSC or the scheme’s support channels on the portal — do not pay anyone privately to “clear” your file.
8. Status & key updates for 2026
- The scheme continues in full flow: loans, toolkits, and training are being delivered through banks and CSCs, and the second-tranche loan facility (₹2 lakh, 5% interest) is available to eligible skilled beneficiaries who maintained a standard loan account and adopted digital transactions [Source: pmvishwakarma.gov.in — FAQ].
- Reports indicate that more than 30 lakh artisans have been reached since the launch, and separate budget allocations for the scheme have continued through FY 2025–26 and 2026–27 — verify the latest figures on the portal.
9. Scams and mistakes to avoid
- Registration is 100% free. Nobody can charge you to “register” or “get your certificate fast”. See: Government scheme applications are free and How to avoid government scheme fraud.
- Never share your OTP, Aadhaar, or bank PIN with callers claiming to be scheme officials.
- Only apply through the official portal or an authorized CSC — private websites impersonating the scheme are a common scam.
- The ₹15,000 toolkit comes as an e-voucher — you never need to pay “toolkit delivery charges” upfront.
10. Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is applying for PM Vishwakarma free?
Yes. Registration, training, the toolkit grant, and the certificate are all free.
Q2. Can women artisans apply?
Yes — the scheme is open to all artisans and craftspersons, women included, working in the covered trades.
Q3. My trade is not in the list. Can I apply?
Only the trades covered by the scheme are eligible. Check the full 18-trade list in the Trade Handbook on the official portal.
Q4. Do I need a registered business or GST number?
No. The scheme is designed for informal artisans; eligibility requires that you actually practice the trade, not that you have formal registration. (Being an income-tax payer can disqualify you — see the official FAQ.)
Q5. What are the exact loan terms?
Tranche 1: up to ₹1 lakh, repayment 18 months, ~5% interest, no collateral. Tranche 2: up to ₹2 lakh, repayment 30 months, same conditions — available after you repay tranche 1 on time and use digital payments.
Q6. How do I get the ₹15,000 toolkit incentive?
After your skills are verified (following basic training), you receive an e-RUPI/e-voucher up to ₹15,000 to buy tools from authorized sellers.
Sources :
- Official portal: pmvishwakarma.gov.in · PM Vishwakarma FAQ · myScheme (pmv) · IBEF scheme profile · Vikaspedia
This article is for information only. Always confirm current rules and amounts on official government portals before applying.