Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme

Key Highlights:

• The Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP) supports non-farm enterprises in rural areas, launched in 2016 as a sub-scheme of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
• By June 30, 2026, SVEP had supported 4.32 lakh rural enterprises across the country.
• The programme emphasizes social inclusion, with 86% of entrepreneurs from SC, ST, Minority, and OBC communities, and mandates at least 60% women beneficiaries.
• It provides training, financial assistance, mentoring, and community-led institutional support to Self Help Groups (SHGs) and their members.
• A cumulative central share of ₹942.09 crore was released for SVEP up to February 2026, a 738% increase from 2016-2018.
• A mid-term evaluation by the Quality Council of India found 99% of SVEP-supported enterprises were profitable, with an average monthly revenue of ₹39,000.

Detailed Insights:

• SVEP aims to promote sustainable livelihoods and self-employment opportunities, addressing the urban concentration of India's start-up ecosystem.
• It facilitates access to banking linkages and converges with other government schemes like Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana.
• Implementation is through State Rural Livelihoods Missions (SRLMs), with Block Resource Centres–Enterprise Promotion (BRC-EPs) coordinating at the block level.
• Community Resource Persons–Enterprise Promotion (CRP-EPs), predominantly women from SHG households, provide technical assistance and mentoring.
• Community institutions play a crucial role in identifying entrepreneurs, facilitating loans through the Community Enterprise Fund (CEF), and monitoring enterprise performance.
• The programme has shown positive outcomes in income generation, enterprise development, and empowerment of vulnerable communities, with 75% of enterprises owned or managed by women.
• Beneficiaries reported increased savings, improved confidence, better household well-being, and enhanced social standing within their communities.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP): A government initiative to promote non-farm enterprises in rural areas through financial, training, and institutional support.
• Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM): A flagship program mobilizing rural poor households into Self-Help Groups for sustainable livelihoods and financial inclusion.
• Self-Help Groups (SHGs): Small, informal associations of people who come together to address common problems, often involving microfinance and mutual support.
• Community Resource Persons–Enterprise Promotion (CRP-EPs): Trained local individuals, primarily from SHG households, who provide mentoring and support to rural entrepreneurs under SVEP.