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Swavalambini Scheme is a flagship Women Entrepreneurship Programme launched in February 2025 by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) to empower young women through structured entrepreneurship training. The scheme was officially shared in Lok Sabha by Jayant Chaudhary and is currently running as a pilot project in selected Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana. Swavalambini focuses on helping female students move from business ideation to enterprise creation using a 3-step model: 🔹 Entrepreneurship Awareness Programme (EAP): 1200 students targeted, 1110 already trained — building basic entrepreneurial understanding. 🔹 Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP): 600 shortlisted participants receive intensive training in business skills, finance access, market linkages, legal compliance, networking, and business services. 302 women have completed EDP so far. 🔹 Mentorship & Handholding: 21 weeks of guided support by industry experts and entrepreneurs to convert ideas into sustainable businesses. The programme is implemented by: * National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD), Noida * Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati Knowledge Partner: NITI Aayog through its Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP), offering mentoring, workshops, seed funding support, and recognition via the Award To Reward initiative. To ensure long-term sustainability, a Faculty Development Programme (FDP) trains teachers to mentor future women entrepreneurs — 75 faculty members already trained. 💰 Financial Overview: Total allocation: ₹40,46,016 Funds released: ₹10,11,504 Disbursed to NIESBUD and IIE. Why Swavalambini Matters: ✔ Builds entrepreneurial mindset among young women ✔ Promotes Atmanirbhar Bharat through self-employment ✔ Strengthens India’s skill ecosystem ✔ Combines training + mentorship + real market exposure ✔ Supports inclusive economic growth by targeting female students in HEIs Currently, the scheme remains in pilot phase, with strong monitoring by MSDE and no proposal yet for expansion to Andhra Pradesh. This initiative represents a major step toward women empowerment, startup culture, and grassroots entrepreneurship in India. #SwavalambiniScheme #WomenEntrepreneurship #MSDEIndia #StartupIndia #SkillDevelopment #WomenEmpowerment #AtmanirbharBharat #CurrentAffairs2025 #UPSC #IAS