- Why in news
- On 25 July 2026, PIB published a note on SVEP, saying it had supported 4.32 lakh rural non-farm enterprises by 30 June 2026, with about 86% of entrepreneurs from SC, ST, Minority and OBC groups.
- What it is
- The Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme is a sub-scheme of DAY-NRLM, under the Ministry of Rural Development. It helps SHG members and their families set up non-farm enterprises through training, mentoring, credit and community-led support. It is run through State Rural Livelihoods Missions and block-level resource centres.
- Parent scheme and launch
- SVEP began in 2016 as a sub-scheme of DAY-NRLM. It targets SHG members and their families in the non-farm sector.
- Who implements it
- SRLMs implement it, with a provision of ₹6.50 crore per block and an average investment of ₹27,083 per enterprise.
- Block-level structure
- BRC-EPs coordinate implementation at block level. Trained CRP-EPs give them technical help on enterprise promotion.
- Women's quota
- At least 60% of beneficiaries must be women. Persons with disabilities and SC/ST/minority groups must also be represented.
- Community Enterprise Fund
- Community institutions manage loans through the Community Enterprise Fund, and community bodies give final loan approval.
Don’t confuse with SVEP vs DAY-NRLM: DAY-NRLM is the parent mission that mobilises poor households into SHGs. SVEP is its sub-scheme for non-farm enterprises.
Don’t confuse with BRC-EP vs CRP-EP: BRC-EP is the block-level centre that coordinates the programme. CRP-EP is the trained community resource person who mentors enterprises.
Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.
Why it matters
- Promotes non-farm rural jobs and self-employment, reducing dependence on farming.
- Brings first-generation women and SC/ST entrepreneurs into business through community institutions.
Problems
- Credit access depends on bank linkages, and delays can stall enterprises.
- Evidence rests on a mid-term evaluation with field work in 2019, so current impact is less clear.
Way forward
- Strengthen market linkages and digital tools so enterprises survive beyond the early years.
- Run fresh independent evaluations and track enterprise survival over time.
Put in your answer
Reach and inclusion: About 86% of entrepreneurs are from SC, ST, Minority and OBC communities.
DAY-NRLM scale: More than 10.29 crore rural households have been mobilised into SHGs as of mid-June 2026.
- 2015Mains GS2 · Q9Elucidate how the SHG Bank Linkage Programme alleviates poverty and empowers women.
- 2017Mains GS2 · Q16Examine SHGs' role in development and government measures to promote them.
- 2020Mains GS2 · Q17Evaluate SHGs' role in microfinance for asset creation, income security, and women's empowerment.
- 2020Prelims Q58Which statements on post-1991 rural workforce, productivity, and non-farm growth are correct?
- 2023Prelims Q74Which SHG statements about origin, joint liability, and bank support are correct?
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Sub-scheme of DAY-NRLM, a lasting rural scheme. Schemes make 52 of 327 news-linked Prelims questions, but the facts are thin and routine data.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.