Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Programme (ESDP) benefits more than 18 Lakh participants in 5 years
- Press Information Bureau
- April 1, 2026
The Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Programme (ESDP) of the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises has benefited 18,25,181 participants through 39,280 programmes in the country from FY21-22 to FY25-26 as of March 23, 2026. The scheme is aimed at motivating the youth from various segments of society, including Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and women, to think of self-employment and entrepreneurship as a career option. The increasing pace of programme delivery is an indication of the Government’s sustained efforts towards developing entrepreneurship skills, particularly for first-generation entrepreneurs. Besides skill development, the programme assumes significance in developing the MSME sector by promoting entrepreneurship, enterprise preparedness, and livelihood diversification in both rural and urban areas.
The overall objective of the programme is to foster new enterprise development, build the capabilities of existing MSMEs, and instil an entrepreneurial mindset through structured training and development programmes. The budgetary support for the scheme has also seen a sharp increase in allocations over the years. The allocations have been raised from Rs. 2 crore (US$ 0.22 million) in FY22 to Rs. 95.70 crore (US$ 10.35 million) in FY26 as on March 23, 2026, and the overall expenditure incurred during the five years stands at US$ 28.85 million (Rs. 266.67 crore). The rising allocations and utilisation indicate stronger policy emphasis on job creation through the promotion of entrepreneurship development, local manufacturing activities, and the development of micro enterprises. The scope of the programme in terms of state-wise participation has seen a sharp expansion across various states such as Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Odisha.
Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.
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