PM Vishwakarma Yojana: Complete Guide for Artisans in Bihar (2026)

This guide is for carpenters, tailors, potters, cobblers, barbers, blacksmiths and other traditional artisans in Bihar who want to understand the PM Vishwakarma Yojana properly before they register. You will learn exactly which 18 trades are covered, what you get at each stage (recognition, training stipend, toolkit money, low-interest loans, digital and marketing support), and how to apply at a Common Service Centre without paying a middleman.

What is PM Vishwakarma Yojana?

PM Vishwakarma is a Central Sector scheme of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), launched in September 2023 with an outlay of about ₹13,000 crore for 2023-24 to 2027-28. Its aim is simple: bring artisans who work with their hands and tools into the formal economy, upgrade their skills and give them cheap, collateral-free credit.

Unlike a pure loan scheme such as PMEGP, PM Vishwakarma is a package. You first get recognised as a "Vishwakarma", then trained, then equipped, and only then offered credit. The official portal is pmvishwakarma.gov.in.

Which 18 trades are covered?

Only artisans in these 18 family-based trades can register:

• Carpenter (Suthar/Badhai)
• Boat maker
• Armourer
• Blacksmith (Lohar)
• Hammer and tool kit maker
• Locksmith
• Goldsmith (Sonar)
• Potter (Kumhar)
• Sculptor, stone carver, stone breaker
• Cobbler (Charmkar), shoesmith, footwear artisan
• Mason (Rajmistri)
• Basket, mat and broom maker, coir weaver
• Traditional doll and toy maker
• Barber (Nai)
• Garland maker (Malakaar)
• Washerman (Dhobi)
• Tailor (Darzi)
• Fishing net maker

In Bihar this covers a huge number of people: the potters of Nalanda and Gaya villages, bamboo basket makers in Kosi and Mithila, cobblers in every town bazaar, rajmistris who build most of our homes, and the darzi shops in every mohalla of Patna.

Who is eligible for PM Vishwakarma?

As per the scheme guidelines published by participating banks and the MSME ministry:

• You must be an artisan or craftsperson working with hands and tools, self-employed in one of the 18 trades, in the unorganised sector.
• You must be at least 18 years old on the date of registration.
• You must actually be working in that trade on the date of registration.
• You should not have taken a loan under similar credit schemes of the Central or State Government (such as PMEGP, PM SVANidhi or Mudra) in the past five years. Check the portal FAQ for the exact treatment of fully repaid loans.
• Only one member of a family can register. "Family" here means husband, wife and unmarried children.
• A person in government service, or a member of their family, is not eligible.

If you run a readymade garment shop that only resells clothes, you are a trader, not a Darzi; this scheme is not meant for you. Look at Mudra loans or CGTMSE-backed loans instead.

What benefits do you get under PM Vishwakarma?

1. Recognition: certificate and ID card

After verification you receive a PM Vishwakarma Certificate and ID card. This is your proof of being a registered artisan and unlocks all the other benefits.

2. Skill training with ₹500 per day stipend

• Basic training: 5-7 days, compulsory before you can take the first loan.
• Advanced training: 15 days or more, optional, useful if you want the second loan.
• A stipend of ₹500 per day is paid for the training days, so you do not lose a full week's wages while learning.

Training covers modern tools, design, costing, digital payments and basic business skills.

3. Toolkit incentive up to ₹15,000

At the start of basic training you get a toolkit incentive of up to ₹15,000 in the form of e-vouchers, to buy modern tools for your trade — for example an electric potter's wheel, a better sewing machine, or power tools for a carpenter. Buy from the approved channel shown during training; do not accept cash offers for your voucher.

4. Collateral-free loan up to ₹3 lakh at 5%

• First tranche: up to ₹1 lakh, repayable in 18 months.
• Second tranche: up to ₹2 lakh, repayable in 30 months.
• You pay a concessional 5% interest; the Government of India pays up to 8% interest subvention to the bank for standard (non-NPA) accounts.
• No collateral and no guarantee fee; loans are covered under the credit guarantee trust on a portfolio basis.

To get the second tranche you must repay the first tranche fully as a standard account, and either adopt digital transactions in your business or complete advanced training. Banks also look for a minimum gap of about six months after the first disbursement.

5. Digital transaction incentive

You get ₹1 per digital transaction, for up to 100 transactions a month, credited to your account. If a Sasaram cobbler takes 100 UPI payments a month, that is ₹100 extra every month — small, but it builds a digital record that banks value. Our guide on UPI QR payments for small business explains how to set this up safely.

6. Marketing support

The scheme offers help with quality certification, branding, e-commerce onboarding and trade fairs. Selling on government and open networks is a real option for good artisans; see selling on ONDC.

How to register for PM Vishwakarma at a CSC (step by step)

Registration is done through a Common Service Centre (CSC) using Aadhaar-based biometric authentication. You cannot complete it alone from your phone.

1. Find the nearest CSC (Jan Seva Kendra). You can search "CSC" on Bihar Directory's search or ask at your panchayat bhawan.
2. Carry your Aadhaar card, the mobile number linked to Aadhaar, bank account details (passbook), and a ration card if you have one (used to check family details).
3. The CSC operator (VLE) authenticates you with your fingerprint and fills the registration form on the portal: personal details, trade, family details, bank details.
4. Stage 1 verification: Your application goes to the Gram Panchayat head (in villages) or the Urban Local Body (in towns like Dehri, Ara or Purnia) for verification that you actually do this trade.
5. Stage 2: The District Implementation Committee vets and recommends.
6. Stage 3: The Screening Committee gives final approval.
7. You get your certificate and ID, then an SMS for basic training.
8. After basic training, you can apply for the first loan through the portal; the bank processes it.

Keep the application number safe and check status on the portal. Registration under the scheme is meant to be free for the artisan; if anyone asks for money to "pass" your file, refuse and report it through the official helpline listed on the portal.

Bihar examples: how different artisans can use the scheme

A carpenter in Bihta (Patna district): He makes doors and beds by hand. With the ₹15,000 toolkit he buys a power planer and drill, cutting his time per door almost in half. The ₹1 lakh loan buys seasoned wood in bulk before the wedding season, when furniture orders peak. Customers find furniture makers on pages like furniture shops in Patna, so listing his workshop brings more walk-ins.

A tailor in Muzaffarpur: She stitches blouses and school uniforms at home. Training teaches her pattern-making and pricing; the toolkit gets her a better machine. After repaying the first tranche on time and taking UPI payments, she qualifies for ₹2 lakh to open a small boutique. For the business side, read starting a silai-boutique business.

A potter in Gaya district: Diwali and Chhath demand for diyas and kalash is huge but short. An electric wheel and a working capital loan let him build stock in advance and sell to shops in Gaya and Bodh Gaya.

A cobbler in Dehri-on-Sone: Recognition and a small loan let him move from a roadside spot to a small booth with a stock of chappals and polish, while digital payments earn the monthly incentive.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Registering in the wrong trade. Choose the trade you actually practise; verification at the panchayat will check it.
• Two family members applying. Only one member per family is allowed; a second application may be rejected.
• Skipping basic training. No training, no first loan.
• Late repayment. Interest subvention is paid only while the account is standard. One missed EMI can cost you the cheap rate and the second tranche.
• Paying agents. Go directly to a CSC and track your status yourself.
• Selling the toolkit voucher. It is for your tools; misuse can disqualify you.

Quick checklist before you go to the CSC

• Aadhaar with working linked mobile number
• Bank account in your own name, Aadhaar-seeded
• Ration card or family details
• Clear idea of your trade and how long you have done it
• A plan for how you will use ₹1 lakh (materials, tools, shop rent) and repay about ₹6,000 a month for 18 months

Next steps

If you practise one of the 18 trades, visit a CSC this week and register. While you wait for verification, make your work easy to find: list your business free on Bihar Directory with your trade, photos of your work and your WhatsApp number, so customers in your town can call you directly. Hindi readers can read the same scheme explained in पीएम विश्वकर्मा योजना क्या है.

This is general information, not legal or financial advice. Confirm current rules, eligibility and loan terms on pmvishwakarma.gov.in or with your bank before applying.