Background of the Campaign
National Campaign on Entrepreneurship under Rural Development Mission: The National Campaign on Entrepreneurship has been launched by the Ministry of Rural Development to strengthen enterprise promotion in rural India.
The campaign focuses on creating a structured ecosystem for rural entrepreneurship through capacity building and community-level support.
A key objective is to train 50,000 Community Resource Persons (CRPs) on enterprise promotion.
Additionally, around 50 lakh SHG members will be trained under the framework of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
Significance of Rural Entrepreneurship
Rural entrepreneurship is increasingly seen as a catalyst for inclusive economic growth.
Women’s participation in enterprise creation has expanded rural income sources beyond agriculture.
Women empowerment remains a central outcome.
Studies indicate that closing the gender gap in entrepreneurship can potentially boost global GDP by USD 1.5 trillion.
Income diversification is another structural shift.
Non-farm activities now contribute nearly two-thirds of rural household income, reducing dependency on seasonal agriculture.
Static GK fact: India has over 8.5 crore women associated with Self Help Groups, making SHGs one of the world’s largest women-based community networks.
Poverty Reduction and Social Mobility
Rural enterprises have shown a direct impact on poverty alleviation.
An SBI report highlights that 65% of rural SHG members moved upward in relative income between FY19 and FY24.
Entrepreneurship also strengthens community resilience.
Local employment opportunities reduce distress migration and curb unplanned urbanisation.
Static GK Tip: Rural non-farm employment is considered a key indicator in measuring structural transformation of agrarian economies.
Government Measures Supporting Rural Enterprises
Financial inclusion forms the backbone of enterprise promotion.
The Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana provides collateral-free loans to micro and small entrepreneurs.
Targeted schemes for women play a strategic role.
The Udyogini Scheme and Mahila Coir Yojana offer credit support, skill training, and subsidised equipment.
Capacity building is supported through institutional programmes.
MEDPs and LEDPs implemented by NABARD focus on micro-enterprise skills and market readiness.
Incubation support is strengthened under the ASPIRE Scheme, which has trained over 1.16 lakh beneficiaries in rural and semi-urban regions.
Lakhpati Didi Initiative and Enterprise Vision
The Lakhpati Didi Initiative under DAY-NRLM aims to enable 3 crore SHG members to earn at least ₹1 lakh annually.
Enterprise promotion, value addition, and market linkage are the core strategies.
Static GK fact: SHG federations function at village, cluster, and district levels to provide economies of scale and bargaining power.
About DAY-NRLM Framework
DAY-NRLM is the restructured version of Swarnajayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY).
It was officially renamed in 2016 with a stronger focus on institution building.
The mission targets 7 crore rural poor households, primarily through women-centric SHGs.
Its key objective is to ensure access to entitlements, credit, skills, and livelihoods in a sustainable manner.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
National Campaign on Entrepreneurship under Rural Development Mission:
| Topic | Detail |
| Campaign Name | National Campaign on Entrepreneurship |
| Nodal Ministry | Ministry of Rural Development |
| Training Target | 50,000 CRPs and 50 lakh SHG members |
| Mission Framework | DAY-NRLM |
| Poverty Impact | 65% SHG members improved income status |
| Credit Support | PM Mudra Yojana |
| Skill Programmes | MEDPs and LEDPs |
| Flagship Initiative | Lakhpati Didi Initiative |
| Long-term Goal | Sustainable rural livelihoods and enterprises |
