Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India (DAY-NRLM)
Lakhpati Didi Yojana 2026 — Free Skill Training for SHG Women to Earn ₹1 Lakh+ Per Year
Objective
Empower 3 crore women Self Help Group (SHG) members across rural India to earn a sustainable annual income of ₹1 lakh or more through skill training, micro-enterprise support, and market linkages.
Eligibility Criteria
- Women who are active members of a Self Help Group (SHG) registered under DAY-NRLM (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission)
- Age: 18 to 60 years
- Must be a rural resident
- Must be part of an active, functioning SHG with regular savings and meetings
- Priority given to women from BPL families and economically weaker sections
Benefits & Features
- 1Free skill training in high-demand vocations including LED bulb making, plumbing, drone operation, solar panel installation, and repair & maintenance
- 2Access to micro-credit and loans through SHG bank linkage for starting small enterprises
- 3Market linkages — help to sell products to government departments, corporates, and retail markets
- 4Business mentorship and entrepreneurship development
- 5Goal: achieve ₹1 lakh annual income within 4 agricultural seasons or business cycles
- 6Connection to Namo Drone Didi scheme (selected SHGs get drones for agricultural services)
Required Documents
- SHG membership certificate or SHG passbook
- Aadhaar card
- Bank account linked to SHG
- Residence proof (ration card, voter ID, or any government-issued address proof)
How to Apply
Official Portal & Helpline
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Lakhpati Didi Yojana — Making 3 Crore Rural Women Earn ₹1 Lakh a Year
On Independence Day 2023, PM Narendra Modi announced a target that caught everyone's attention: make 3 crore women from Self Help Groups (SHGs) earn at least ₹1 lakh per year. Not charity, not a monthly transfer — but sustained income through skills and enterprise. That is the core of the Lakhpati Didi Yojana.
The scheme runs under DAY-NRLM (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission), the central government's rural women's empowerment mission that already has over 9 crore women in SHGs across India.
What "Lakhpati Didi" Means
A Lakhpati Didi is a woman SHG member who earns ₹1 lakh or more per year (approximately ₹8,300/month) on a sustainable basis — for at least 4 agricultural seasons or business cycles in a row. The income must come from the skills or enterprise she develops, not from temporary wage work.
What You Get Under This Scheme
1. Free Skill Training Training in practical, income-generating vocations:
- LED bulb making and repair
- Plumbing and water supply maintenance
- Solar panel installation and maintenance
- Drone piloting for agriculture (linked to Namo Drone Didi scheme)
- Agarbatti making, candle making, handicrafts
- Tailoring, stitching, textile work
- Papad, pickle, and food processing
2. Credit Access Bank loans through SHG bank linkage at concessional interest rates to start or expand a small enterprise.
3. Market Linkages Government agencies, local bodies, and corporate buyers are connected to SHG products. Lakhpati Didis get preference in government procurement of specific items.
4. Business Mentorship Community Resource Persons (CRPs) and enterprise facilitators guide women through setting up and running their micro-businesses.
Who Can Apply
Any woman who is an active member of an SHG registered under DAY-NRLM. Age 18 to 60 years. Rural resident.
If you are in an SHG already, you are in the programme ecosystem. Your SHG coordinator or Cluster Coordinator at the Block level will connect you to training opportunities.
If you are not in an SHG yet, join one first through your Gram Panchayat or Anganwadi centre — it is free and the benefits are extensive beyond just this scheme.
Current Progress (2026)
As of early 2026, over 1 crore women have been declared Lakhpati Didis with verified annual income of ₹1 lakh or more. The government has set a target of 3 crore by 2025, which it is working to achieve in 2026.
How to Find Out If You Qualify
- Ask at your local Gram Panchayat office — they have NRLM contact details
- Contact the Block Resource Centre (BRC) in your district
- Visit lakhpatididi.gov.in for programme details and your state's NRLM link
- Call DAY-NRLM helpline: 1800-180-5999 (toll-free)
Quick Links
- Official Portal: lakhpatididi.gov.in
- DAY-NRLM Portal: aajeevika.gov.in
- Helpline: 1800-180-5999