The Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor’s Atmanirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Yojana has been implemented effectively in Uttar Pradesh since its national launch in June 2020. Coordinated by the Urban Development Department and executed through Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), banks, and financial institutions, the scheme provides collateral-free working capital loans to street vendors affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.Under the dynamic 9-year leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath since 2017, Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the top-performing state in the implementation of the Prime Minister Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Yojana, a marquee central scheme launched in 2020 to provide collateral-free working capital loans to street vendors.In UP, the focus has been on widespread awareness campaigns, vendor surveys, and digital onboarding across all major cities like Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Agra, and Gorakhpur, as well as smaller towns. The state has consistently ranked among the top performers in loan disbursements, with strong support from District Magistrates and municipal corporations for identification, application processing, and grievance redressal.Uttar Pradesh has shown impressive results under the scheme. As one of the leading states, it has facilitated hundreds of thousands of loans, with high disbursement rates often exceeding 100% of targets in various phases.Beneficiaries receive initial loans of up to Rs10,000–15,000, with higher tranches (Rs25,000 and Rs50,000) available on timely repayment, along with 7% interest subsidy and cashback incentives for digital transactions. The scheme has empowered a large number of women vendors and promoted formal credit access, UPI usage, and business growth. Extended till March 2030, its implementation in UP continues to focus on expanding coverage to peri-urban areas and integrating vendors with other welfare schemes for holistic development.Salient Features of the Scheme1. Objective and Target Beneficiaries•Provides collateral-free working capital loans to street vendors impacted by COVID-19 to restart and expand their businesses. •Targets over 1.15 crore street vendors (including 50 lakh new beneficiaries) vending in urban, peri-urban, and rural areas. •Focuses on hawkers, thelewale, rehriwalas, and small vendors, with special emphasis on women and underprivileged groups. •Extended till March 2030 under the restructured PM SVANidhi 2.0.2. Loan Structure and Financial Benefits •1st Tranche: Up to Rs15,000 (tenure 12 months). •2nd Tranche: Up to Rs25,000 (tenure 18 months). •3rd Tranche: Up to Rs50,000 (tenure up to 36 months). •7% interest subsidy on timely repayment + cashback incentives for digital transactions. •Additional UPI-linked RuPay Credit Card facility after repaying the 2nd tranche (credit limit up to Rs30,000).3. Key Salient Features •Completely collateral-free with zero processing and documentation charges. •Promotes digital payments, formalisation of vendors, and linkage with social security schemes. •No income tax return or collateral required; simple and fast approval process. •Focus on capacity building, training, and socio-economic upliftment of street vendors.4. Eligibility Criteria •Street vendors operating on or before 24 March 2020 (or new vendors with Letter of Recommendation). •Must possess Certificate of Vending / Identity Card issued by Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) or valid proof of vending. •Age: 18–60 years; Indian citizen with a bank account linked to Aadhaar. •Open to all categories without income ceiling in most cases.5. How to Apply •Visit the official portal: pmsvanidhi. mohua. gov. in/ or download the PM SVANidhi mobile app. •Login with mobile number (Aadhaar-linked), enter Survey Reference Number (SRN) if available. •Fill the application form, upload documents (Aadhaar, photo, vending proof), and submit. •Can also apply offline through Banking Correspondents, Urban Local Bodies, or lending institutions; track status online in real-time.Achievement of the schemeHighest Loan Disbursement in IndiaUttar Pradesh has emerged as one of the top-performing states, with loans disbursed to over 60 lakh street vendors — the highest number in the country. The state has facilitated more than Rs12,000 crore in total loans to over 92 lakh applicants. This massive outreach has empowered lakhs of small vendors, especially women and those from marginalised communities, helping them restart and scale their businesses successfully.
