The Government of India has unveiled a series of new schemes aimed at empowering women sole proprietors, marking a significant policy effort to strengthen female-led enterprises in the micro and small business sectors. These initiatives, introduced jointly by the Ministry of Women and Child Development and the Ministry of MSME, are designed to address the financial, technological, and training-related challenges faced by women entrepreneurs operating under the sole proprietorship model. The schemes were formally introduced during a national conference on women entrepreneurship, highlighting the government’s commitment to inclusive economic growth.

Among the key features of the new schemes is a dedicated credit support program that offers collateral-free loans up to ₹5 lakh with reduced interest rates exclusively for women sole proprietors. This financial assistance will be linked to Jan Dhan accounts and supported by credit guarantees under existing MSME programs. Additionally, a digital onboarding and mentorship platform is being launched to help women entrepreneurs register their businesses, access e-commerce markets, and receive legal and financial advisory services. The government also plans to offer tax rebates for women-owned sole proprietorships that meet specific employment or digital adoption criteria.

To further boost participation, capacity-building workshops and localized training sessions will be conducted in partnership with NGOs, self-help groups, and academic institutions. These programs aim to enhance digital literacy, improve financial management, and create awareness about government benefits available to women entrepreneurs. Officials noted that special outreach will be conducted in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, as well as rural areas, where many women-owned businesses operate informally. With these new schemes, the government hopes to significantly increase the number of women sole proprietors entering the formal business ecosystem and contributing to the national economy.