New Delhi: In a bid to “empower” street vendors across India, the Union Cabinet today approved the restructuring and extension of the PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Scheme. Originally launched on June 1, 2020, to support vendors hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, the scheme’s lending period, previously set to end on December 31, 2024, will now continue until March 31, 2030.
With a budget of 7,332 crore rupees, the revamped programme aims to reach 1.15 crore beneficiaries, including 50 lakh new vendors, offering them loans, digital tools, and training to grow their businesses and improve their lives.
The restructured scheme, jointly managed by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs and the Department of Financial Services, introduces several upgrades to make it easier for vendors to thrive. Loan amounts are increased: the first loan is now up to 15,000 rupees (up from 10,000), the second up to 25,000 rupees (up from 20,000), and the third remains at 50,000 rupees. Vendors who repay their second loan can access a UPI-linked RuPay Credit Card, offering instant credit for business or personal needs. To encourage digital payments, vendors can earn up to 1,600 rupees in cashback for retail and wholesale transactions. The scheme’s reach is expanding beyond statutory towns to include census towns and peri-urban areas, ensuring more vendors can benefit.
The extended scheme provides loans, digital payment incentives, and training to support street vendors in expanding their businesses, alongside access to welfare programmes for their families. By March 31, 2030, it aims to assist vendors in statutory towns, census towns, and peri-urban areas, with banks and financial institutions facilitating loans and credit cards through their local staff.
Beyond financial support, the scheme equips vendors with skills to grow their businesses, the government claimed. Training programmes, in partnership with organisations like the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, will teach street food vendors about hygiene and food safety. Additional workshops focus on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, digital skills, and marketing, helping vendors manage their finances and attract more customers. Monthly Lok Kalyan Melas, part of the ‘SVANidhi se Samriddhi’ component, will connect vendors and their families to government welfare schemes, ensuring access to health, education, and other benefits in a comprehensive approach.
A Cabinet note today claimed the PM SVANidhi Scheme has already transformed the lives of street vendors, from fruit sellers to food stall owners, by providing affordable loans and a sense of formal recognition in India’s economy. As of July 30, 2025, over 96 lakh loans totalling 13,797 crore rupees have been disbursed to more than 68 lakh vendors. Nearly 47 lakh vendors have embraced digital payments, completing over 557 crore transactions worth 6.09 lakh crore rupees and earning 241 crore rupees in cashback rewards. The scheme’s ‘SVANidhi se Samriddhi’ initiative has profiled 46 lakh beneficiaries across 3,564 urban local bodies, connecting over 1.38 crore family members to government welfare programmes. Its impact earned accolades, including the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration in 2023 for innovation and a Silver Award in 2022 for digital transformation.
– global bihari bureau
