Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) Scheme

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA), Government of India, for the six centrally notified minority communities: Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Parsis. The Ministry designed PM VIKAS as one integrated scheme by merging five of its earlier livelihood schemes, namely Seekho Aur Kamao, USTTAD, Hamari Dharohar, Nai Roshni and Nai Manzil. Instead of running separate programmes for skills, crafts, women and education, the Ministry now delivers all this support under one umbrella.

The Ministry launched PM VIKAS because a large section of minority communities works as artisans and craftspersons in an unorganised sector, where they face low incomes, poor access to credit, design, technology and markets, and the risk of losing their traditional skills. Many minority women also lack awareness of government schemes and their rights, and many young people from these communities leave school early.

The objective of the scheme is to build the skills of minority communities through need-based training and ensure employment or livelihood for them, preserve and promote traditional arts, crafts and Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), provide school dropouts with Class 8, 10 and 12 certification through open schooling, empower minority women through leadership and entrepreneurship support, and improve livelihoods through market and credit linkages.

PM VIKAS works through four components. The Skilling and Training component covers traditional training for artisans (earlier USTTAD and Hamari Dharohar) and non-traditional, NSQF-aligned job training for youth (earlier Seekho Aur Kamao). The Women Leadership and Entrepreneurship component (earlier Nai Roshni) trains minority women as leaders, entrepreneurs, and business mentors called Biz Sakhis/Udyami Mitras.

The Education component (earlier Nai Manzil) runs bridge programmes for school dropouts through NIOS, while the Infrastructure Development component uses the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) wherever infrastructure is required. Trainees receive a monthly stipend through DBT into their Aadhaar-linked bank accounts, ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹3,000 per month depending on the course, along with placement support, credit linkage through NMDFC and banks, and market linkage through fairs and Lok Samvardhan Parvs.

Beneficiaries do not receive money directly from the Ministry for training. The Ministry selects Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs) such as Minority Community Institutions, industry bodies and Central/State Government institutions, and these PIAs mobilise candidates, enrol them online, run training at Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) accredited centres and pay stipends through PFMS. At least 33% of skilling seats are reserved for women, 50% of education seats are reserved for women, and 3% of seats are reserved for Persons with Disabilities. The Ministry funds Components 1, 2, and 3 fully (100%), while Component 4 follows the Centre-State sharing pattern of PMJVK.

Alongside PM VIKAS, the Central Government is also implementing other schemes to promote skill development and employment opportunities, including the PM Vishwakarma Scheme, which provides skill training, modern tools and financial support to traditional artisans and craftspeople, and the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), which offers industry-relevant skill training and certification to enhance the employability of youth. Interested applicants can explore the complete details of both schemes here.

Components of PM VIKAS Scheme

1. Skilling and Training Component

• Traditional Training (earlier USTTAD and Hamari Dharohar): NSQF-aligned training in arts and craft job roles, customised workshops on market linkage, e-commerce, packaging, design and export, and preservation of languishing art forms and ICH.
• Non-traditional Skilling (earlier Seekho Aur Kamao): Placement-linked, NSQF-aligned training for minority youth in sectors such as manufacturing, services, tourism, hospitality, agriculture, handlooms and food processing, with soft skills such as digital literacy, financial literacy and English.
• Training duration: Minimum 3 months and maximum 12 months for NSQF-aligned job roles.

2. Women Leadership and Entrepreneurship Component

• Leadership and Basic Entrepreneurship Programme: 60 hours of training on personality development, legal rights, financial inclusion, digital literacy, health and hygiene.
• Entrepreneurship Development: 120 hours of training for 50% of the enrolled women who show potential to start an enterprise.
• Biz Sakhi/Udyami Mitra: 240 hours of training for at least 10% of the women trained as entrepreneurs, so that they can mentor other women entrepreneurs.

3. Education Component

• Bridge programme for school dropouts from minority communities for Class 8, 10 and 12 through open schooling.
• Coaching, assessment and certification through NIOS or other institutions approved by MoMA.

4. Infrastructure Development Component

• The Ministry first uses existing infrastructure created under PMJVK and other Ministries.
• New or additional infrastructure is proposed by State Governments under PMJVK with the approval of the State Level Committee.

Benefits of PM VIKAS Scheme

PM VIKAS offers eligible minority beneficiaries a range of benefits, including free skill training, monthly stipends, certification and employment or entrepreneurship support. The key benefits provided under the scheme are outlined below:

Stipend Amount Under PM VIKAS

Other Benefits

• Free training: The Ministry funds training, assessment, and certification costs of Components 1, 2, and 3 (100% central funding).
• DBT payment: The PIA pays the stipend through PFMS into the trainee's Aadhaar-linked bank account for the training period, up to a maximum of 12 months.
• Placement support: PIAs must place at least 75% of non-traditional trainees in wage employment, self-employment, or apprenticeship, with at least 50% in the organised sector. A candidate counts as placed only after 3 continuous months in the job.
• Post-placement support: The scheme lists ₹2,000 per candidate for 2 months as an eligible post-placement support cost under non-traditional skilling, and PIAs track placed candidates for at least 3 months.
• Certification: Sector Skill Councils, NCVET-approved bodies or NIOS assess and certify trainees.
• Credit linkage: Beneficiaries get help to access working capital and term loans from NMDFC, banks and NBFCs, and get familiarised with schemes such as PM Mudra Yojana.
• Enterprise support for women: PIAs help at least 30% of women trained in entrepreneurship to set up individual or group enterprises.
• Career counselling: At least 15% of women enrolled in the leadership component get help with further skill training, education or jobs.
• Market linkage: Artisans get platforms such as Lok Samvardhan Parvs, trade fairs, buyer-seller meets, product catalogues and e-commerce support, along with help for GI tags wherever possible.

Note: PM VIKAS does not give a fixed cash grant or a guaranteed loan to every beneficiary. Loans depend on the eligibility norms of NMDFC, banks, and other lending institutions.

Eligibility Criteria for PM VIKAS Scheme

To apply for PM VIKAS, an applicant must belong to a notified minority community and meet the age, Aadhaar, and course-wise qualification conditions set by the Ministry.

• The applicant must be an Indian national.
• The applicant must belong to a minority community notified under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, i.e., Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain or Parsi.
• Other minorities notified by a State/UT Government may be considered with an assertion from the State Government, but they cannot exceed 5% of total seats.
• The applicant should have an Aadhaar card and an Aadhaar-linked bank account at the time of registration. If not, the PIA arranges these before training starts.
• Preferably 14-45 years for Traditional Training, Non-traditional Skilling and Education; 18–45 years for the Women Leadership and Entrepreneurship component.
• Preference goes to candidates from the Economically Weaker Section (EWS).
• Candidates in skilling and women leadership courses must meet the minimum education and experience required for the job role under NSQF norms.
• The Women Leadership and Entrepreneurship component is only for women.

Reservation Under PM VIKAS

• At least 33% of seats for women in Traditional Training and Non-traditional Skilling.
• At least 50% of seats for women in the Education component.
• 3% of seats for Persons with Disabilities across the skilling, women leadership, and education components.
• To promote inter-community solidarity, up to 25% non-minority (EWS) candidates in Traditional Training and up to 15% in other components may be considered.
• Reserved seats that remain vacant may be treated as unreserved.

Documents Required for PM VIKAS Registration

The following documents may be required for beneficiaries to apply under PM Virasat Ka Samvardhan Scheme. However, as the official guidelines do not specify a complete document checklist, candidates should confirm the exact requirements with their respective PIA or training centre.

• Aadhaar card
• Educational and experience certificates required for the chosen NSQF job role
• State Government assertion, in the case of state-notified minority communities
• Aadhaar-linked active bank account details

How to Apply for PM VIKAS Scheme

Registration under PM VIKAS is online, and candidates join a training batch through an approved Project Implementing Agency (PIA), rather than applying directly to the Ministry. You can learn about the complete process by following the steps below.

Method 1: Online Registration Through Skill India Digital Hub

The PM VIKAS portal directs candidates to the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), where the entire candidate life cycle is recorded.

• First, visit the Skill India Digital Hub portal.
• If you are not registered, click on the Register tab.
• Choose your category, enter your mobile number, and verify it using the OTP.
• Fill in the required details and search for a PM VIKAS course or training centre near you and choose a job role that matches your qualifications.
• Complete enrolment with the concerned PIA or training centre, which adds you to a training batch on the scheme portal.

Method 2: Enrolment Through a Project Implementing Agency (PIA)

PIAs carry out on-ground mobilisation, so candidates can also join through them directly.

• Contact a PM VIKAS PIA or SIDH-accredited training centre in your area, or attend its mobilisation camp.
• Take counselling from the PIA about the courses, stipend, and placement options.
• Submit your Aadhaar, bank account, and qualification details. If you do not have an Aadhaar card or an Aadhaar-linked bank account, the PIA helps you get one before training starts.
• The PIA enrols you online on the scheme portal and allots you to a batch of up to 30 candidates.

Training, Assessment and Certification Process

• Training takes place only in SIDH-accredited and affiliated centres, for a maximum of 8 hours per day.
• The PIA records attendance through the geo-fenced Aadhaar-Enabled Biometric Attendance System (AEBAS).
• Trainees need at least 70% average attendance across the course to appear in the assessment.
• The certificate awarding body assesses and certifies successful trainees, and the PIA records results on the scheme portal/SIDH.
• The PIA then provides placement, self-employment, or apprenticeship support and tracks placed candidates for at least 3 months.

Registration for Institutions and Training Partners

Training institutions, Minority Community Institutions, industry bodies and government institutions register separately on the PM VIKAS portal to submit project proposals in the prescribed DPR format. This registration is not meant for individual candidates.

PM VIKAS Stipend Payment and DBT Details

The PIA, not the Ministry, pays the stipend to each trainee through Direct Benefit Transfer.

• Payment mode: DBT through the Public Financial Management System (PFMS).
• Account: The trainee's Aadhaar-linked bank account.
• Period: Only for the training period, up to a maximum of 12 months.
• Funding to PIA: The Ministry releases stipend funds to the PIA separately from project costs, in two instalments in the ratio of 80:20.
• Attendance link: Stipend is linked to biometric attendance recorded through AEBAS. As per the Ministry's standing instructions to PIAs on stipend disbursement, monthly stipend needs at least 70% attendance in that month, full stipend needs at least 70% cumulative attendance over the course, and candidates who drop out after one month of training do not get further stipend.

Relevant Links

• Pradhanmantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) Registration
• Pradhanmantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) Login
• PM VIKAS Scheme Details
• Guidelines of Pradhanmantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) 

Contact Information

• Pradhanmantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) Helpline Numbers:
  • 011-24364312
  • 011-24360857
• Pradhanmantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) Helpdesk Email: [email protected]