Lok Sabha Question No. 1595 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-09
Subject: Swavalambini Scheme
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: Shri Daggumalla Prasada Rao

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1595

ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026

## SWAVALAMBINI SCHEME

## 1595.  SHRI DAGGUMALLA PRASADA RAO

Will the Minister of SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the number of Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) under the Swavalambini schemes across the country, State/UT-wise;
- (b) the details of the total number of female students enrolled under the Entrepreneurship Awareness Programme (EAP) and Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP), State/UTwise;
- (c) whether the Government plans to expand the programme to HEIs in Andhra Pradesh, if so, the details of the timeline along with the number of institutions planned to be covered;
- (d) the  details  of  the  total  funds  allocated,  approved  and  disbursed  for  implementation  of Swavalambini Scheme, State/UT-wise, including amounts earmarked for seed funding, mentorship and awards;
- (e) whether  any  partnerships  or  Memorandum  of  Understandings  (MoUs)  have  been established between the Government, skill development institutions under the Swavalambini scheme, if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether any monitoring  or evaluation  mechanism  is  in  place  to  track  the  outcomes  of the programme, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

- (a) to (f):    The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) in collaboration with the  Women  Entrepreneurship  Platform  of  NITI  Aayog  as  knowledge  partner,  launched  the Swavalambini  -  a  Women  Entrepreneurship  Programme  in  February,  2025  in six  Higher Education  Institutions  (HEIs)/Universities  of  Assam,  Meghalaya,  Mizoram,  Uttar  Pradesh  and Telangana as a pilot project. The Ministry is implementing the programme through its Autonomous Institutes,  namely,  National  Institute  for  Entrepreneurship  and  Small  Business  Development (NIESBUD), Noida and Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati.

The Swavalambini pilot  project  introduces  a  structured,  multi-stage  training  approach  to  help young  women  transition  from  ideation  to  successful  enterprise  creation.  The  Project  aims  to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset among female students, equipping them with awareness of available  support  mechanisms,  schemes,  resources  and  networks  essential  for  pursuing entrepreneurship as a career.

The  target  group  for  the  Swavalambini  Project  includes  1200  female  students  from  Higher Educational Institutes  (HEIs)  and  Universities  who  undergo  introductory  programme  on entrepreneurial  awareness  through  Entrepreneurship  Awareness Programme  (EAP).  Out  of these, 600 students selected from EAP participants  undergo the Entrepreneurship Development

Programme  (EDP)  offering  intensive  entrepreneurship  development  training  covering  crucial business  aspects  such  as  skilling,  access  to  finance,  market  linkages,  compliance  and  legal support,  business  services  and  networking  opportunities.  This  is  followed  by  21  weeks  of mentorship and handholding support to help participants translate their ideas into sustainable enterprises.

MSDE will oversee the execution,  supervision,  and  monitoring  of  the  programme,  while  NITI Aayog will organize workshops, provide mentoring support, facilitate seed funding, and recognize successful entrepreneurs through the Award To Reward (ATR) initiative.

During the mentoring and handholding support, industry leaders and successful entrepreneurs will guide the participants by providing mentorship and hands-on support. Successful entrepreneurs  will  be  invited  to  share  their  experiences,  highlighting  the  challenges  they overcame and the strategies they used to establish their businesses.

To ensure long-term impact, the programme also includes a Faculty Development Programme (FDP),  where  faculty  members  from  participating HEIs/Universities  shall  undergo  a  five-day training session. This initiative will equip educators with the necessary skills to mentor and guide aspiring women entrepreneurs within their institutions.

The programme-wise details of women participants trained under the pilot project is as under:

| Name of the Programme                      | Name of the Programme                      |   Total Target | Total Trained   |
|--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|----------------|-----------------|
| Faculty Development Programme (FDP)        | Faculty Development Programme (FDP)        |             75 | 75              |
| Entrepreneurship Awareness Programme (EAP) | Entrepreneurship Awareness Programme (EAP) |           1200 | 1,110           |
| Entrepreneurship Development Programme     | (EDP)                                      |            600 | 302             |

The  State-wise  and  programme-wise  details  of  number  of  women  participants  trained  as  on 29.01.2026 under the pilot project is as under:

| State         | Name of the Programme (Total trained)   | Name of the Programme (Total trained)   | Name of the Programme (Total trained)   |
|---------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
|               | FDP                                     | EAP                                     | EDP                                     |
| Assam         | 9                                       | 64                                      | *                                       |
| Meghalaya     | 8                                       | 161                                     | *                                       |
| Mizoram       | 10                                      | 244                                     | *                                       |
| Uttar Pradesh | 31                                      | 491                                     | 254                                     |
| Telangana     | 17                                      | 150                                     | 48                                      |
| Total         | 75                                      | 1,110                                   | 302                                     |

*programme started and currently under implementation.

MSDE  has  allocated  funds  of  Rs  40,46,016  for  training  to  NIESBUD  and  IIE,  out  of  which Rs.10,11,504/- have been released by MSDE to the implementing Institutes.

Presently, Swavalambini - a Women Entrepreneurship Programme has been launched in pilot phase, covering HEIs in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana. At present, there is no proposal under consideration for expansion of the programme in the State of Andhra Pradesh.

A comprehensive monitoring and evaluation mechanism at the Ministry level in collaboration with NITI Aayog is in place to track the progress and outcomes of the programme.

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