Swavalambini: Empowering Women Entrepreneurs

Why in News?

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), in collaboration with NITI Aayog, has launched the “Swavalambini” initiative in the Northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, and Mizoram. The program aims to promote women entrepreneurship through higher education institutions (HEIs).

What is Swavalambini?

Swavalambini is a women-focused entrepreneurship program that seeks to develop an entrepreneurial mindset among young women in the Northeast region by offering training, mentorship, and funding opportunities.

🔹 Key Components:

• Entrepreneurship Awareness Programme (EAP): Basic orientation to entrepreneurship for students.
• Women Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP): Skill-building and handholding support for aspiring women entrepreneurs.
• Faculty Development Programme (FDP): Equipping faculty to mentor and guide female entrepreneurs.
• Funding Support & Recognition: Promising ventures will receive financial aid and national recognition.

Expected Outcomes:

• At least 10% of EDP trainees are expected to launch successful ventures.
• Builds an entrepreneurial culture in HEIs, making business creation a viable career path.
• Recognizes and scales women-led enterprises, contributing to economic empowerment and inclusive growth.

Alignment with National Policies:

Policy/Initiative	Alignment
National Education Policy (NEP) 2020	Promotes entrepreneurship-oriented education and skill integration, which Swavalambini fosters within HEIs.
Start-Up India, Stand-Up India	Swavalambini strengthens access to early-stage funding and mentorship for women.
PM Mudra Yojana	Supports micro-credit for women-led MSMEs aligned with Swavalambini’s objectives.
Women Entrepreneurship Platform (NITI Aayog)	Swavalambini complements this digital ecosystem with on-ground training and support.
Union Budget 2025	Aligns with the newly introduced ₹10,000 crore startup fund and tax incentives for new enterprises, offering a financial push to women-led start-ups.

Women Entrepreneurship Landscape in India:

• Total MSMEs in India: ~63 million
• Women-Owned MSMEs: ~12.39 million (≈20%)
• Employment Generation: Women-led MSMEs employ 22–27 million people
• India’s Rank in Global Indices:
  • 57th out of 65 in the Mastercard Index of Women Entrepreneurship (MIWE) 2021
  • 70th out of 77 in the Global Female Entrepreneurship Index (FEI)

🔹 Top States by Share of Women-led MSMEs:

1. West Bengal – 23.42%
2. Tamil Nadu – 10.37%
3. Telangana – 7.85%
4. Karnataka – 7.56%
5. Andhra Pradesh – 6.76%

Significance of Swavalambini:

• Bridges gender gaps in entrepreneurship, particularly in underrepresented Northeastern states.
• Encourages grassroots innovation and local enterprise, aligned with Atmanirbhar Bharat and Vocal for Local missions.
• Provides a structured framework to convert education into entrepreneurial action among women.

Conclusion:

Swavalambini represents a timely and strategic initiative to unlock the economic potential of women entrepreneurs, especially in the underserved Northeastern region. By providing a comprehensive ecosystem of awareness, training, mentorship, and funding, the program is poised to transform women-led enterprises into a driving force of India’s inclusive economic growth.

CBL Practice Questions for Prelims

With reference to the “Swavalambini” initiative, consider the following statements:

1. It is implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
2. It aims to empower women in higher education institutions in the Northeastern region.
3. It includes components such as awareness, skill training, mentorship, and funding.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

🟩 Answer: B. 2 and 3 only

CBL Mains Practice Question

“Start-up India and Stand-up India cannot succeed without standing up for women.”
Comment in light of recent entrepreneurship trends and policy initiatives.

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