Vishwakarma Shramik Samman Yojana 2.0 Expanded: 14 New Trades Added, Collateral-Free Loans up to ₹10 Lakh

The Uttar Pradesh government has significantly expanded the scope of the Vishwakarma Shramik Samman Yojana 2.0, opening up powerful new avenues of self-employment, entrepreneurship, and financial independence for traditional artisans and skilled youth. By incorporating 14 new trades alongside the existing 11, the expanded scheme now covers a comprehensive total of 25 traditional and modern professions. Designed to bridge the gap between ancestral craftsmanship and modern market demands, the upgraded initiative offers free advanced training, daily honorariums, free toolkits, and collateral-free business loans of up to ₹10 lakh.

14 New Trades Added to Meet Modern Market Demands

The latest expansion of the scheme bridges grassroots traditional skills with fast-evolving contemporary market needs. The 14 newly added trades include both heritage craftsmanship and modern technical services:

• Traditional Crafts: Sculptor, garland maker, milkman, Bharbhuja, and fisherman.

• Modern Technical Trades: Mobile repairing, automobile repair, electronic goods repair, electrical services, plumbing, computer repair, solar installation, digital photography, and beauty & wellness.

This inclusive framework ensures that a vastly wider circle of skilled workers across rural and urban Uttar Pradesh can access institutional backing, modern technology, and formal market integration.

Comprehensive Financial Assistance and Collateral-Free Loans

To ensure artisans can successfully establish or scale up their ventures, the scheme provides robust financial support structures:

• Subsidized Loans: Beneficiaries can access business loans of up to ₹10 lakh. General category male applicants contribute a 10 percent margin money deposit, while women, OBC, SC, ST, disabled individuals, and ex-servicemen enjoy a reduced margin requirement of just 5 percent.

• Attractive Subsidies: A 15 percent margin money subsidy is provided on the remaining amount. Under the CGTMSE framework, loans are 100 percent secured without requiring external guarantees.

• Interest Relief and Repayment: Regular repayment qualifies borrowers for a five-year interest subsidy. After an initial six-month moratorium period, loans are structured for easy repayment across 54 manageable installments.

Free 10-Day Training, Daily Honorariums, and Advanced Toolkits

Beyond financial credit, the upgraded scheme prioritizes skill enhancement and immediate support for trainees:

• Free Training Program: Selected beneficiaries undergo a rigorous 10-day free skill development training course.

• Daily Honorarium: Trainees receive ₹500 per day directly transferred via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into their bank accounts, alongside complimentary meals and snacks during the training period.

• Advanced Toolkits and Certificates: Upon successfully completing the program, participants receive a government-recognized skills certificate and a free advanced toolkit worth up to ₹15,000 to jump-start their independent work.