Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP) 

About Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP) 

• It is  the sub-scheme under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) programme .
• Launched: It was launched in 2016.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Rural Development
• Objective: The objective is to help the rural poor come out of poverty by helping them set up enterprises and provide support till the enterprises stabilize.
• Implementation: It is implemented through State Rural Livelihoods Missions (SRLMs), with Block Resource Centres–Enterprise Promotion (BRC-EPs) coordinating implementation at the block level.
  • Community Resource Persons–Enterprise Promotion (CRP-EPs) provide handholding support, business mentoring and credit facilitation to entrepreneurs.
  • SHGs and their federations identify potential beneficiaries and monitor enterprise performance. 
• Features
  • Holistic Enterprise Development: SVEP combines financial assistance, entrepreneurship training, mentoring, institutional support, and access to formal credit, enabling rural entrepreneurs to establish and sustain their enterprises.
  • Community-Led Implementation: The programme follows a community-led implementation model in which local community institutions identify beneficiaries based on their entrepreneurial potential, livelihood needs, and poverty status.
  • Financial Assistance and Credit Access: Selected entrepreneurs receive financial assistance through the Community Enterprise Fund (CEF) and bank credit, along with continuous mentoring and capacity-building support.
  • Convergence with Government Schemes: SVEP facilitates convergence with government initiatives, including the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), to improve access to institutional finance.
  • Inclusive and Gender-Focused Approach: The programme ensures that at least 60% of beneficiaries are women while providing adequate representation to persons with disabilities (PwDs), Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and minority communities.
  • Institutional Framework: SVEP operates through a well-defined institutional framework involving government agencies, financial institutions, and community organizations to ensure effective implementation, financial inclusion, and the long-term sustainability of rural enterprises.
  • Financial Support for Enterprise Development: Each implementation block receives financial assistance of ₹6.50 crore, with an average investment of ₹27,083 per enterprise to support the establishment and growth of rural businesses.
  • Community Resource Persons (CRP-EPs): CRP-EPs are jointly selected by State Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLMs) and implementing agencies after training and certification providing continuous support in business planning, financial management, market linkages, and enterprise growth.
  • Technology-Driven Monitoring: SVEP integrates digital tools for business planning, loan appraisal, and enterprise tracking. A centralized Management Information System (MIS) enables regular monitoring and evaluation at both the state and central levels.
• Performance of the scheme: Since its inception, up to June 15, 2026, the Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP) has supported the establishment of more than 4.32 lakh rural enterprises. 
  • Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh have emerged as the leading states in terms of the number of enterprises supported under the programme.