Udyam Sakhi Portal Empowers Women Entrepreneurs with MSME Schemes & Support

Launched to encourage women to participate actively in India’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem, the Udyam Sakhi Portal acts as a single-window information hub.

 

The Udyam Sakhi Portal (https://udyamsakhi.com), an initiative of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), has emerged as a dedicated platform to support women entrepreneurs across India. By providing vital information on schemes, policies, programmes, and institutional support, the portal plays a crucial role in helping women start, sustain, and expand their entrepreneurial ventures, contributing to their journey of becoming self-reliant and financially empowered.

The details of the initiative were recently shared by Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, Minister of State for MSME, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

Objective of the Portal

Launched to encourage women to participate actively in India’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem, the Udyam Sakhi Portal acts as a single-window information hub. It connects aspiring and existing women entrepreneurs with the financial schemes, business opportunities, and institutional support systems available under the MSME framework and beyond.

The portal was developed in 2018 with an expenditure of ₹43.52 lakh, and since its inception, it has steadily gained traction among women-led businesses. So far, 4,535 women have registered on the platform to explore opportunities and resources.

Key Features of the Udyam Sakhi Portal

The Udyam Sakhi Portal offers a wide range of information and resources, including:

• Financial Schemes of the Ministry of MSME: Details on major credit and support schemes such as:

  • PMEGP (Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme)

  • CGTMSE (Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro & Small Enterprises)

  • MUDRA (Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency Ltd.)

  • TReDS (Trade Receivables Discounting System)

• Policies and Programmes: Updates on MSME-related schemes and other Central Ministry programmes that directly benefit women entrepreneurs.

• Business Plan Guidance: Information on preparing detailed business plans, feasibility reports, and strategies to build sustainable ventures.

• Institutional Support: Contact details of nodal offices and supporting organisations of the MSME Ministry across various states, enabling women to connect with local support systems.

• Market Access Opportunities: Updates about exhibitions, trade fairs, and international events organised by MSME to promote women-led enterprises and facilitate wider market reach.

Empowering Women in the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

The portal is not only a knowledge repository but also an empowerment tool for women who often face challenges in accessing credit, navigating compliance procedures, or identifying growth opportunities. By consolidating financial, institutional, and market-related resources, Udyam Sakhi helps bridge the gap between policy frameworks and grassroots entrepreneurs.

Government’s Commitment to Women Entrepreneurship

In her reply, Sushri Shobha Karandlaje reaffirmed the Government’s focus on women-led development as part of the broader vision of building an inclusive economy. She underlined that initiatives like Udyam Sakhi are aligned with national priorities of “Atmanirbhar Bharat” and “Make in India”, wherein women entrepreneurs are seen as key drivers of economic growth, innovation, and job creation.

The Road Ahead

As India continues to strengthen its MSME sector, which already contributes nearly 30% to the country’s GDP and 48% to exports, women entrepreneurs are poised to play a larger role. With enhanced outreach, improved awareness, and integration of digital tools, the Udyam Sakhi Portal can become a game-changer for fostering inclusive growth, especially in rural and semi-urban regions where women-led enterprises are emerging steadily.