Lakhpati Didi Scheme Update 2026: To empower women economically, the central government took a historic step in the budget of February 1, 2026. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the next phase of the Lakhpati Didi Scheme, now referred to as ‘Lakhpati Didi 2.0’.
This time, the government’s focus is not limited to skill training but also to empowering women to move beyond debt-based livelihoods and become self-employed. To fulfill this vision, ‘She Marts’ (Self-Help Entrepreneur Marts) will be established across the country, providing a large and organized market for the products of rural and urban women.
What is ‘She Mart’ and its new model
The biggest announcement of Budget 2026 is the ‘She Mart’ mission, a direct extension of the Lakhpati Didi program. These will be specialized retail outlets owned and operated by cluster-level federations of self-help groups. Through these markets, women will be able to sell their products, such as handicrafts, clothing, spices, and food items, directly to customers.
The government aims to free women from middlemen and provide them with modern business facilities, such as branding, packaging, and digital inventory management, so that they can compete with major brands on a business scale.
Financial Assistance and a New Target of 3 Crore
The government has not only increased the targets under this scheme but also made the financial assistance criteria more attractive. The government now aims to make 3 crore women Lakhpati Didis (Lakhpati Didis), meaning women with an annual income of at least ₹1 lakh, by March 2027.
To achieve this, women associated with self-help groups are being provided interest-free loans of up to ₹5 lakh. Additionally, a special term loan of up to ₹2 crore has been introduced for women starting businesses for the first time, with enterprises receiving She Mart certification receiving additional interest rate concessions.
Eligibility and Application Process
To benefit from the Lakhpati Didi Scheme, a woman must be a member of a Self-Help Group (SHG). If you are not currently part of a group, you can join one by visiting your nearest Gram Panchayat or Block Development Office (BDO). Women between the ages of 18 and 50 are eligible to apply.
Required documents include an Aadhaar card, PAN card, bank passbook, residence certificate, and an active mobile number. The application process is available both online and offline. Online applications can be made through the Ministry of Rural Development’s official website, while offline forms can be submitted by visiting the Self-Help Group office in your area or the relevant bank branch.
Vikram Singh
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