Overview
The Rashtriya Udyamita Vikas Pariyojana (RUVP) is an entrepreneurship development initiative launched on 20 February 2024 under the Skill India Mission by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). The programme was inaugurated by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in Sambalpur, Odisha, with simultaneous virtual launches across 9 other cities.
RUVP is specifically designed for beneficiaries of the PM SVANidhi (Prime Minister Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi) scheme, aiming to transform street vendors from job seekers into job providers through comprehensive entrepreneurship training. The programme is implemented in partnership with Flipkart and delivered through centres of the National Institute of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) and the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE).
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Launched | 20 February 2024 |
| Inaugurated by | Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan |
| Launch venue | Sambalpur, Odisha (+ 9 cities virtually) |
| Ministry | Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) |
| Under | Skill India Mission |
| Target beneficiaries | PM SVANidhi beneficiaries (street vendors) |
| Industry partner | Flipkart |
| Training duration | 22 weeks |
| Training modes | Offline, online, and hybrid |
| Implementation centres | 20 NIESBUD centres + 10 IIE centres |
| Women participation target | At least 40% |
Programme Structure
Training Curriculum
The 22-week comprehensive entrepreneurship training programme combines theoretical knowledge with practical exposure:
- Business fundamentals: Financial literacy, accounting basics, pricing strategies
- Digital commerce: Online selling, e-commerce operations, digital payments
- Marketing and branding: Customer acquisition, social media marketing, brand building
- Regulatory compliance: GST registration, FSSAI (for food vendors), trade licenses
- Mentoring: Focused business and technical mentoring from industry experts
- Experiential learning: Hands-on practical exposure through Flipkart’s ecosystem
Training for Trainers (ToT)
A rigorous Training for Trainers programme ensures quality and consistency across all centres. Trainers undergo selection and training before they deliver the curriculum to street vendor beneficiaries.
Pilot Cities
The programme was launched as a pilot in 10 major cities:
| City | State |
|---|---|
| Sambalpur | Odisha |
| Bhopal | Madhya Pradesh |
| Kanpur | Uttar Pradesh |
| Indore | Madhya Pradesh |
| Varanasi | Uttar Pradesh |
| Bharatpur | Rajasthan |
| Shillong | Meghalaya |
| Silchar | Assam |
| Dibrugarh | Assam |
| Guwahati | Assam |
Implementation Framework
Implementing Institutions
| Institution | Centres | Role |
|---|---|---|
| NIESBUD (National Institute of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development) | 20 centres | Primary training delivery |
| IIE (Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship) | 10 centres | Training delivery, especially in NE India |
Flipkart Partnership
Flipkart provides:
- E-commerce training modules and digital commerce curriculum
- Access to Flipkart’s seller ecosystem for trained vendors
- Technology infrastructure support
- Stipend support for trainees during the programme
Connection with PM SVANidhi
PM SVANidhi was launched on 1 June 2020 to provide affordable working capital loans to street vendors affected by COVID-19. RUVP builds on the SVANidhi ecosystem by upgrading vendor capabilities:
| PM SVANidhi Feature | RUVP Extension |
|---|---|
| Working capital loan (Rs 10,000 - Rs 50,000) | Entrepreneurship training to use capital effectively |
| Digital payment incentives | Digital commerce and e-selling skills |
| Credit history building | Financial literacy and business accounting |
| Micro-enterprise support | Transition from vendor to micro-entrepreneur |
Latest Developments
- February 2024: RUVP launched on 20 February 2024 in 10 pilot cities with physical inauguration in Sambalpur and virtual launches in 9 other cities
- Training delivery: 22-week training programmes commenced across 30 centres (20 NIESBUD + 10 IIE) with offline, online, and hybrid modes
- Women participation: Programme mandates at least 40% women participation, promoting gender equality in street vendor entrepreneurship
- Flipkart integration: Street vendors receiving training on digital commerce, online selling, and access to Flipkart’s seller platform
- NE India focus: 4 of 10 pilot cities (Shillong, Silchar, Dibrugarh, Guwahati) are in the North-Eastern Region, reflecting priority for NE development
Prelims Importance
- RUVP launched: 20 February 2024 in Sambalpur, Odisha
- Inaugurated by: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan
- Ministry: Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
- Under: Skill India Mission
- Target: PM SVANidhi beneficiaries (street vendors)
- Industry partner: Flipkart
- Training duration: 22 weeks (offline/online/hybrid)
- Pilot cities: 10 (Sambalpur, Bhopal, Kanpur, Indore, Varanasi, Bharatpur, Shillong, Silchar, Dibrugarh, Guwahati)
- Implementation: 20 NIESBUD centres + 10 IIE centres
- Women target: At least 40% participation
- PM SVANidhi launched: 1 June 2020
Mains & Interview Importance
GS3 — Economy; Entrepreneurship
- Informal to formal transition: RUVP addresses the challenge of formalising India’s street vendor economy (estimated 1 crore+ vendors), a key component of urban informal employment
- Bottom-of-pyramid entrepreneurship: The programme targets the most vulnerable urban informal workers and aims to upgrade their capabilities from subsistence vending to micro-entrepreneurship
- Public-private partnership model: The Flipkart partnership demonstrates how e-commerce platforms can be leveraged for inclusive economic development
- Digital India integration: Training vendors in e-commerce and digital payments aligns with the broader Digital India vision
GS2 — Social Justice; Governance
- Urban governance and livelihoods: Street vendors are protected under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014; RUVP complements legal protection with economic empowerment
- PM SVANidhi linkage: Demonstrates convergence between credit access (SVANidhi) and skill development (RUVP)
Interview Angles
- “Can a 22-week training programme truly transform a street vendor into a digital entrepreneur?”
- “Is the Flipkart partnership a genuine empowerment tool, or does it risk making vendors dependent on a single platform?”
- “India has over 1 crore street vendors. RUVP covers only 10 cities. How should the programme be scaled?”