PM SVANidhi Expands Beyond Urban Areas, Street Vendors’ Income Rises 20 Per Cent

The Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme is being expanded beyond statutory urban areas to include census towns and peri-urban areas in phases; the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has mentioned in an official release.

The scheme was first introduced in statutory urban areas. It was later extended to street vendors from nearby peri-urban areas who sell goods within the limits of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).

More Street Vendors Can Access The Scheme

The restructured scheme covers street vendors who meet the eligibility rules. This includes seasonal and mobile vendors, women vendors and those dependent on tourism.

An impact assessment by the Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad, in 2023 covered more than 5,000 beneficiaries across 100 ULBs. It found that for 95 per cent of them, the PM SVANidhi loan was their first loan from a bank.

The study also found that vendors used the loans to expand their businesses.

Business Income Grows 20 Per Cent

A second ISB study in 2025 covered more than 5,000 beneficiaries across 99 ULBs. Around 60 per cent of those surveyed were also part of the 2023 study.

The average annualised business income of PM SVANidhi borrowers grew by around 20 per cent between 2023 and 2025, the study found.

Around 30 per cent of borrowers across all loan cycles also reported having loans other than PM SVANidhi loans. The study found that the use of digital payments among street vendors also increased significantly during the same period.

The study also found that the scheme had an impact on household finances. Easier access to credit and more stable cash flows helped vendor families improve living conditions, food security, access to healthcare and children's education.

RuPay Credit Card Introduced For Eligible Vendors

A UPI-linked RuPay Credit Card has been introduced for beneficiaries who have repaid their second loan tranche. The card was launched on January 23, 2026.

As of July 12, 2026, 14 cards had been issued in Katni, two in Panna and one in Khajuraho, according to the government.

The average time taken to sanction a PM SVANidhi loan is 23 days, according to the PM SVANidhi portal.

States and ULBs are responsible for identifying eligible vendors and bringing in new applications. The ministry has also conducted awareness drives and digital literacy camps. Vendors have been offered cashback incentives to encourage digital payments.