The government has introduced several measures aimed at empowering women and fostering entrepreneurship, recognizing their transformative potential in driving economic growth. More than 73,000 start-ups with at least one-woman director, accounting for nearly half of the 157,066 start-ups supported under the Start-up India Initiative, highlight the vital role of women in innovation.
Key schemes to enhance skilling opportunities for women include the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna and the Mahila Coir Yojana, a component of the Coir Vikas Yojana. The Indian Patent Act offers expedited examination processes for patents filed by women and reduced fees for women entrepreneurs seeking intellectual property protection, resulting in a 905 percent increase in women’s patent filings over the past five years. One-third of start-ups incubated under the Atal Innovation Mission’s Atal Incubation Centres are led by women.
Initiatives such as Stand Up India, Start Up India, and MUDRA Yojna have been instrumental in facilitating bank loans for women entrepreneurs. The Credit Guarantee Scheme for Start-ups provides credit guarantees for loans extended to women by member institutions, while the Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme focuses on generating self-employment through micro-enterprises. The Companies Act mandates that companies must have at least one woman director.
Schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Street Vendors AtmaNirbhar Nidhi provide credit facilities to street vendors, with the majority of beneficiaries being women. Nationalized banks have also introduced schemes like the Mahila Udyam Nidhi Yojana, Dena Shakti Scheme, Stree Shakti Package for Women Entrepreneurs, and Cent Kalyani Scheme to further support women entrepreneurs.
These efforts underscore the government’s commitment to creating an inclusive environment for women in the workforce and promoting their economic independence.
