National Commission for Women

Women Centric Schemes by Different Ministries of Government of India (GOI)

Women Centric Schemes by Different Ministries of Government of India (GOI)

Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
1. Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)
  1. Objective: Aimed at improving the productivity and income of women farmers by promoting agriculture-based livelihood options.
  2. Focus: It provides women with technical training, financial support, and a better understanding of sustainable agriculture.
2. Rashtriya Mahila Kisan Yojana
  1. Objective: Encourages women farmers to take leadership roles in agriculture, focusing on skills training and improving agricultural productivity
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
1. Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY)
  1. Objective: JSY is a safe motherhood intervention under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) that provides financial assistance to pregnant women for institutional delivery.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: Aimed at reducing maternal and infant mortality, JSY offers cash assistance to women from below-poverty-line families.
2. Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)
  1. Objective: Provides a cash incentive to pregnant and lactating women to improve their health and nutritional status.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: The scheme provides ₹5,000 for eligible women in their first pregnancy, helping them improve their health and the health of their child.
Ministry of Home Affairs
1. Nari Shakti Puraskar
  1. Objective: This is an award given annually by the Ministry of Home Affairs to honor women who have made extraordinary contributions to society.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: Recognizes women’s efforts in various fields, including social, economic, and political sectors.
2. Mahila Police Volunteer (MPV) Scheme: This scheme, implemented in collaboration with the MHA, aims to create and empower Mahila Police Volunteers who serve as a link between the police and the community, facilitating women in distress and fighting crime against women.
Ministry of Law and Justice
1. Bettering Women’s Rights and Gender Equality
  1. Objective: The Ministry works to enact and amend laws that protect and promote the rights of women.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: The Ministry has been actively involved in creating laws like the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 and Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013.
2. Promotion of Legal Education Among Women: The government has acknowledged a decline in female enrolment in LL.B. courses, as indicated by the All India Survey on Higher Education 2020-21. In response, efforts are being made to encourage higher enrolment of women in legal courses, including the consideration of scholarships and schemes to make legal education more accessible to women
Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) As per survey around 1.4 crores (approx.) MSMEs are leading by Women Entrepreneur in India
1. Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP)
  1. Objective: PMEGP is a credit-linked subsidy program aimed at promoting self-employment and entrepreneurship among the youth, especially women, in rural and urban areas.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: A special emphasis is placed on women entrepreneurs. Under this scheme, women are given a higher subsidy (25% instead of the standard 15%) for setting up new micro-enterprises. This makes it more accessible for women to start their own businesses.
2. Mahila Coir Yojana
  1. Objective: The scheme promotes women’s participation in coir production, an industry predominantly located in Kerala. It provides financial assistance for training and working capital to women entrepreneurs in the coir industry.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: Provides training, raw materials, and financial support for women to engage in coir-based industries, empowering them to work independently and enhance their incomes.
3. Udyogini Scheme
  1. Objective: Aimed at empowering women, this scheme offers financial assistance to women entrepreneurs from rural and urban areas to establish micro-enterprises in diverse fields such as manufacturing, services, and trade.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: Provides loans and financial support specifically to women entrepreneurs, especially those belonging to disadvantaged communities, to promote their participation in the MSME sector.
4. SIDBI – Women Entrepreneur Fund
  1. Objective: The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) offers fund to support women entrepreneurs in setting up or expanding micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
5. National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) Schemes
  1. Objective: NSIC offers a range of schemes to promote MSMEs by providing them with necessary resources such as finance, technology, and market linkages.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: NSIC has schemes tailored to empower women entrepreneurs by providing them with training, financial support, and access to a large network of business opportunities. NSIC works to encourage the participation of women in the MSME sector.
6. Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)
  1. Objective: This is an initiative by the Government of India to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in the country. The Ministry of MSME partners with AIM to help foster innovation in the MSME sector.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: Special programs under AIM encourage the participation of women innovators and entrepreneurs, including mentoring, funding, and capacity-building programs targeted specifically at women-led startups.
Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) There are many women centric schemes by MWCD, few are discussed here: –
1. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP)
  1. Objective: Aimed at addressing the declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and promoting the education of the girl child.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: Focuses on creating a favourable environment for girls by educating communities on the importance of their education, health, and safety.
2. One-Stop Centres (OSCs)
  1. Objective: Provides support services for women affected by violence, offering shelter, legal aid, and psychological counselling.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: Aimed at providing immediate help to women facing violence and supporting their recovery and empowerment.
3. Mahila Shakti Kendra (MSK)
  1. Objective: Empowerment of rural women through community participation.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: Strengthens the role of women in local governance and provides opportunities for rural women in areas like skill training, advocacy, and financial inclusion.
4. Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)
  1. Objective: Aims to provide health and nutrition support to children, as well as mothers.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: Improves maternal health, provides nutritional support, and offers early childhood education and care
5. Nari Shakti Puraskar Scheme:
  1. Objective: The main objective is to honor women who have shown exemplary achievements in various fields, including education, health, social work, sports, leadership, and many others. It aims to celebrate the spirit of women’s empowerment and highlight their role in nation-building.
6. Swayamsiddha Scheme:
  1. Objective: The primary objective of the Swayamsiddha Scheme is to empower rural women by enhancing their self-reliance, improving their economic status, and increasing their social and decision-making power.
  2. Focus:
    - Skill Development and Capacity Building;
    - Financial Inclusion by Providing access to micro-credit and financial services;
    - Promoting health education, nutritional support and Legal Awareness:
    - Community Empowerment
    - Integrating women into social security programs and other government welfare schemes
Ministry of Steel
1. Women in Steel Program
  1. Objective: Aims to increase the participation of women in the steel industry, which is traditionally male-dominated.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: Provides skill development and leadership programs to encourage women to work in steel manufacturing and related sectors.
2. The Sanitary Napkin Distribution and Awareness Program is an initiative under the Ministry of Steel, specifically implemented by public sector steel companies like Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
1. New Swarnima Scheme for Women:
  1. Objective: Provide term loans to women entrepreneurs from backward classes to promote self-employment and financial independence.
  2. Key Features:
    - Loan Amount: Up to Rs 2,00,000 at an interest rate of 5% per annum.
    - Implementation: Managed by the National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC) through State Channelising Agencies.
2. Mahila Samridhi Yojana (MSY) is a scheme aimed to benefit the women entrepreneurs from backward backgrounds or poor backgrounds. The scheme was launched as part of the National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Under this scheme, the Government provides micro-finance to the women entrepreneurs either directly or through Self-Help Groups (SHGs). This scheme is being implemented by a wide range of channel partners nationwide. Targeted women beneficiaries are identified and given loans either directly or in the form of Self-Help Groups (SHGs). The two main targeted beneficiaries are:
  1. Self-help groups (SHGs): It aims to strengthen and assist SHGs, particularly those that include women. These people make up the autonomous, economically disadvantaged category.
  2. Women belonging to economically and socially backward classes (targeted groups): Women from the underprivileged classes are considered, particularly those who fall under the SC or ST category.
Ministry of Science and Technology
1. Women Scientist Scheme (WOS)
  1. Objective: Encourages women’s participation in the field of science and technology by providing them with opportunities for research and development.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: Provides financial support to women scientists to engage in high-quality research and contribute to national development in science and technology.
2. DST – Women in Science and Engineering (WISE)
  1. Objective: Aims to increase women’s participation in scientific research and technological innovation.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: Provides funding and training to women scientists and engineers to enhance their skills and increase their visibility in the scientific community.
3. Technology Development and Utilization Programme for Women (TDUPW):
  1. Address specific needs of women and enhance their contribution towards technology capability building.
  2. (Implementing Agency: Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR))
4. SERB-POWER (Promoting Opportunities for Women in Exploratory Research)” The Scheme is aimed to mitigate gender disparity in science and engineering research funding in various S&T programs in Indian academic institutions and research and development (R&D) laboratories, address comparatively lower participation of women scientists in research activities and to identify and support competitive women researchers in the country. (SERB stands The Science and Engineering Research Board)
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
1. Women Entrepreneurship Program
  1. Objective: Empower women entrepreneurs and stimulate economic growth.
  2. Key Features: Structured training through Entrepreneurship Awareness Programmes (EAP). Introduction of female students to entrepreneurship as a viable career option.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs
1. Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana
  1. Objective: This scheme is designed to improve the quality of life for tribal populations, focusing on their education, health, and livelihoods.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: Supports tribal women through initiatives like skill development, healthcare, and access to financial resources for self-sustenance.
2. Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED)
  1. Objective: TRIFED promotes tribal products in national and international markets.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: Supports tribal women artisans and entrepreneurs by providing them with a platform to showcase and sell their products, while offering training and financial assistance.
3. Support to Tribal Women for Skill Development
  1. Objective: Provides skill development programs to tribal women in sectors such as weaving, handicrafts, and agriculture.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: Empowering tribal women with skills and resources to start small enterprises and improve their livelihoods.
  3. The Special Tribal Component (STC) is a welfare initiative aimed at the upliftment of tribal communities in India, with a special focus on addressing the needs and challenges faced by tribal women.
Ministry of Textiles
1. Development for Women in Traditional Crafts : The scheme focuses on empowering women who are engaged in traditional crafts by improving their skills, providing them with better income-generating opportunities, and preserving traditional Indian crafts.
Ministry of Rural Development
1. Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM)
  1. Objective: Provides financial assistance to women from urban areas to help them establish self-help groups (SHGs) and start micro-enterprises.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: Empowers women through financial support, training, and market access, enabling them to become financially independent.
2. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G):
  1. Objective: PMAY-G aims to provide affordable housing to rural poor, with a focus on women empowerment by mandating the ownership of houses in the name of female members.
  2. Key Features:
    - Construction of Pucca Houses with basic amenities.
    - Mandatory allocation of houses to women beneficiaries.
3. Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)
  1. Objective: MKSP, under DAY-NRLM, seeks to empower women in agriculture by enhancing their productivity and income.
  2. Key Features:
    - Training and capacity building in agricultural practices.
    - Provision of tools, technologies, and access to markets
4. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)
  1. Objective: Provides employment opportunities in rural areas, with a specific focus on women.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: At least one-third of the beneficiaries must be women, ensuring their active participation in rural development activities
Ministry of Railways
1. The Railway Women’s Welfare Central Organization (RWWCO) serves as the apex body overseeing a network of Women’s Welfare Organizations across all Indian Railways. Established in 1962 following the Indo-China War, RWWCO is dedicated to enhancing the welfare of railway personnel and their families through a variety of socio-welfare activities.
2. Registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, SRWWO focuses on empowering women and supporting the welfare of railway employees and their families
3. Meri Saheli Initiative: Launched to ensure the safety of women passengers, this initiative involves dedicated teams providing assistance and security to women travelling alone.
4. Operation Matrishakti: Under this program, women Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel assist expectant mothers during train journeys, ensuring privacy, dignity, and timely medical aid. In 2024 alone, they helped 174 women safely give birth onboard trains
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
1. Launched the ‘Shakti Scheme’ in June 2023, offering free bus services to women within Karnataka. Women can travel free of charge on various bus services by presenting a government-issued photo identity and address proof.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways
1. International Day for Women in Maritime Celebrations: MoPSW commemorates the International Day for Women in Maritime to honor the contributions of women seafarers. In May 2024, the ministry recognized 27 women seafarers from various marine institutes, highlighting their dedication in a traditionally male-dominated field.
2. Scholarships for Women Seafarers: The ministry offers scholarships of up to Rs. 1,00,000/- to women undergoing pre-sea courses at training institutes approved by the Directorate General of Shipping. This initiative aims to support and encourage women’s entry into the maritime profession.
3. Participation in National Events: MoPSW actively showcases women’s empowerment in the maritime sector during national events. For instance, the ministry’s tableau at the Republic Day parade in January 2024 depicted the significant increase in the number of women seafarers, emphasizing the theme “Nari Shakti Driving the Blue Economy”.
Ministry of Planning (NITI Aayog)
1. Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP)
  1. Objective: NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform is aimed at building an ecosystem for women entrepreneurs in India. The platform facilitates access to financial support, mentoring, and networking.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: Provides mentorship, funding, and networking opportunities to help women entrepreneurs grow and scale their businesses
2. Women Transforming India Awards: In collaboration with the United Nations in India, NITI Aayog organizes the Women Transforming India Awards to honor exceptional women entrepreneurs who are breaking barriers and challenging stereotypes. These awards aim to recognize and celebrate the contributions of women in driving social and economic change
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
1. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)
  1. Objective: Provides free LPG connections to women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) households.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: This initiative primarily benefits women by reducing their exposure to harmful smoke from traditional cooking methods, thus improving their health and well-being.
Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
1. Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam: In 2023, the Parliament passed the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, amending the Constitution to reserve one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha and State/Union Territory Legislatures for women. This landmark legislation aims to enhance women’s representation in policy-making at national and state levels
Ministry of Panchayati Raj
1. Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin)
  1. Objective: The mission aims to improve sanitation conditions in rural India.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: Women are empowered through this initiative by providing them with access to sanitation facilities, thereby improving their health and quality of life. Women are also encouraged to take leadership roles in community sanitation programs.
2. Model Women-Friendly Gram Panchayats Initiative: Launched in March 2025, this program selects one Gram Panchayat in each district to receive specialized training focused on developing leadership skills among women. The initiative aims to foster women’s active involvement in all aspects of village governance and development
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
1. Ujjwala Yojana (Clean Energy for Rural Women)
  1. Objective: Under this scheme, clean energy options like solar lanterns and solar home systems are provided to rural women, promoting sustainable energy solutions.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: Aims to reduce women’s dependence on traditional cooking fuels like wood and coal, thereby improving health and reducing the workload of rural women.
2. Solar Charkha Mission
  1. Objective: This initiative aims to promote solar-powered looms, providing rural women with an opportunity to earn a livelihood.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: Focuses on empowering women artisans by providing them with solar-powered spinning wheels (charkhas) for creating products like khadi, helping them improve their productivity and income.
Ministry of Minority Affairs
1. Nai Roshni Scheme
  1. Objective: The Nai Roshni scheme empowers women from minority communities by providing leadership training and financial support to help them become economically independent.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: Provides women with the skills and resources to take on leadership roles within their communities and to become self-sufficient.
2. USTTAD (Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development): This initiative focuses on preserving the heritage of traditional arts and crafts of minority communities. It includes capacity-building for traditional artisans, with 33% of the target allocation reserved for women beneficiaries
Ministry of Jal Shakti
1. National Rural Drinking Water Program (NRDWP)
  1. Objective: Ensures the availability of clean drinking water in rural areas.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: As women are traditionally responsible for water collection in many rural areas, this program focuses on easing their workload by providing easy access to drinking water.
2. Swachh Bharat Mission
  1. Objective: Focuses on sanitation, waste management, and promoting clean surroundings.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: Women play a crucial role in sanitation, and the scheme has provisions to empower women by providing them with access to toilets and hygiene awareness programs.
Ministry of Civil Aviation
1. UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik)
  1. Objective: Aims to make air travel affordable and accessible, including to women in remote areas.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: Women benefit from greater connectivity, and there are specific schemes to promote women in aviation careers, such as pilots, cabin crew, and airport management.
2. Women in Aviation Initiative
  1. Objective: Encourages women to join the aviation sector and provides scholarships and mentorship to women pursuing careers in aviation
3. The Prime Minister also launched the Boeing Sukanya Program which aims to support the entry of more girl children from across India into the country’s growing aviation sector.
Ministry of Cooperation
1. NAndini Sahakar: The scheme aims to improve socio-economic status of women and supports entrepreneurial dynamism of women through women cooperatives. Any cooperative society, having minimum 50% women as primary members, with three months in operation is eligible to apply for assistance which will be in the form of credit linkage for infrastructure term loan and working capital, dovetailed with subsidy or interest subvention from other schemes of Government / Agencies. As an incentive, NCDC provides 2% interest subvention on its rate of interest on term loan portion for new and innovative activities and 1% interest subvention on its rate of interest on term loan portion for all other activities resulting in lower borrowing costs.
2. SWAYAM SHAKTI SAHAKAR YOJNA: New scheme for providing NCDC’s financial assistance to Agricultural Credit Cooperatives for providing loan/advances to Women Self Help Groups (SHGs).
3. Self-Help Groups (SHGs)
  1. Objective: SHGs are encouraged to form cooperatives, which help women gain financial independence through micro-lending and savings.
  2. Focus: Empowering rural women through group-based activities like farming, dairy, and small-scale industries.
4. National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) Schemes
  1. Objective: Supports cooperative societies, many of which are led by women, with training and financial assistance to foster sustainable livelihoods.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: Women’s cooperatives are given special focus and assistance to run successful businesses.
    - NCDC encourages women cooperatives to avail financial assistance under its various schemes. Cooperatives exclusively promoted by women or cooperatives having women as their members can aval assistance under various schemes / programmes of the Corporation.
    - NCDC has provided assistance for activities related toProcessing of Foodgrain, Plantation of Crops, Oilseed Processing, Fisheries, Poultry, Dairy & Livestock farming, Storage, Spinning Mills, Handloom, Jute & Powerloom Weaving, Integrated Cooperative Development Projects, Yuva Sahakar & Services among others.
    - Cumulatively as on 31.03.2023, NCDC has disbursed financial assistance of Rs.5714.81 crore for the development of cooperative societies exclusively promoted by women.
Ministry of AYUSH
1. Ministry of AYUSH Collaboration with Other Ministries: The Ministry of AYUSH collaborates with the Ministry of Women and Child Development on initiatives like “Poshan Abhiyan” to address malnutrition in children, adolescent girls, and pregnant women.
2. Ayush based activities with “Poshan Maah” and “Poshan Pakhwada”: The Ministry has done more 2.7 crore (approx.) Ayush based activities with “Poshan Maah” and “Poshan Pakhwada”.
Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
1. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)
  1. Objective: Provides free LPG connections to women in rural households to improve their health and safety by replacing traditional cooking methods.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: The scheme directly benefits women as it is designed to ensure they are not exposed to the health hazards of traditional cooking.
Ministry of Commerce and Industry
1. Support for International Trade (MDA, MAI)
  1. Objective: The Ministry of Commerce & Industry provides financial support to women entrepreneurs who want to enter the international market through the Market Development Assistance (MDA) and Market Access Initiative (MAI) schemes.
  2. Key Features:
    - Provides assistance for international trade promotion activities like attending trade fairs, exhibitions, and conducting market surveys.
    - Focuses on creating market linkages for women entrepreneurs by giving them access to international platforms and trade events.
    - Supports women who want to explore global market opportunities for their products.
Ministry of Corporate Affairs
1. The Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013), administered by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, has many provisions intending to nurture a safe, secure and non-discriminating environment for women at workplace.
2. 2^ndProviso to the Section 149 of the Companies Act read with Rule 3 of Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Rules, 2014, makes it mandatory for every listed company and every other public company having paid up share capital of Rs. 100 crore or more or having turnover of Rs. 300 crore or more to appoint at least one woman director.
3. An initiative namely “Yashasvini”, was launched on 27.06.2024, which aims to campaign for women entrepreneurs and empower women by building their capacity, with a focus in Tier-II/III towns
4. To facilitate working mothers in giving due care and protection to their children, ‘Palna’– a Centrally Sponsored Scheme was introduced w.e.f. 01 April 2022, for providing day care facilities and protection to children.
5. The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (SH Act) provides a legislative framework for prevention of sexual harassment at workplace. The Act provides for constitution of Internal Committee (IC) where the number of employees is 10 or more, also mandates for constitution of Local Committee (LC) by the District Officer notified under the Act to deal with the cases of workplaces where the number of employees is less than 10 or when the complaint is against the employer itself.
Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DONER)
1. Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE):
  1. PM-DevINE is implemented through the North-Eastern Council/Central administrative Ministries / Departments to fund infrastructure, in the spirit of PM GatiShakti, and social development projects based on felt needs of the North-East. This scheme will enable livelihood activities for youth and women, filling the gaps in various sectors.
  2. Women Enterprise Development Scheme (WEDS): Also managed by NEDFi, WEDS focuses on supporting women-led enterprises in the NER. The scheme offers financial assistance to women entrepreneurs to establish or enhance their businesses, promoting women’s economic independence and contributing to the region’s economic growth
Ministry of Earth Science
1. National Award for woman scientist: Ministry of Earth Sciences has initiated a special award called “Dr. Anna Mani National Award for woman scientist” and is being conferred to one-woman scientist each year on the Foundation Day on July 27^th.
Ministry of Education
1. Mahila Samakhya Programme
  1. Launched in 1988, this program focuses on empowering women through education, particularly in rural areas. It aims to create an environment where women can access education and participate actively in societal development
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
1. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) – Urban
  1. Objective: Provides affordable housing for the urban poor, with a focus on women as head of the household.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: Women-headed households are given priority in the allocation of houses under the PMAY scheme.
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
1. National Livestock Mission (NLM)
  1. Objective: Supports women in rural areas involved in animal husbandry and dairy farming by providing them with technical training and financial support.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: Encourages women’s participation in dairy farming, which is often a significant source of livelihood for women in rural India.
2. National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) Schemes
  1. Objective: Aims to improve the economic status of women in the fisheries sector.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: Provides training, funding, and marketing support for women in the fishery industry.
Ministry of Communications
1. Sanchar Shakti :-
  1. The Ministry of Communications, through the “Sanchar Shakti” program, aims to empower women Self Help Group (SHG) members by providing access to ICT-enabled services, including subsidized mobile Value Added Services (mVAS), mobile repair centres, and solar charging facilities.
2. Digital Literacy Programs for Women
  1. Objective: These programs aim to provide digital skills to women in rural and semi-urban areas, empowering them through information technology.
  2. Focus: Ensuring that women gain digital literacy to enhance employment and economic opportunities.
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
1. Cyber Sakhi
  1. This is a community-driven initiative by MeitY aimed at empowering women and girls with knowledge about cybersecurity. Under this program, women are trained to become Cyber Sakhi (Cyber friends) and help other women in their communities navigate digital platforms safely, raise awareness about online security, and mitigate risks.
2. Women Entrepreneurship in Tech (WET)
  1. Objective: A program designed to promote women entrepreneurs in the technology and electronics sectors by providing mentorship, funding, and training.
  2. Focus: Empowering women to start and scale tech-based businesses.
3. Women in Engineering, Science, and Technology (WEST) initiative: This initiative, launched by I-STEM, aims to encourage women’s participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields and provides a digital consortium “Connect Quickly” for online discussion and support.
Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change
1. The Women and Climate Change (WCC) initiative: –
  1. This inititative is a program aimed at addressing the specific vulnerabilities of women in the context of climate change, as well as ensuring their active participation in climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.
  2. Key Features :
    - Highlighting Gender-Specific Vulnerabilities
    - Empowering Women as Climate Leaders
    - Supporting Women’s Role in Climate Resilience
    - Building the capacity of women in vulnerable communities to deal with the effects of climate change
Ministry of External Affairs
1. MEA’s Women in Diplomacy
  1. The Ministry of External Affairs has increasingly promoted women in diplomacy, encouraging more women to join the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and rise to leadership positions in India’s diplomatic missions. Initiatives to recruit and empower women diplomats include:
    - Encouraging Women in International Relations: By promoting gender equality in the recruitment of Indian diplomats, MEA aims to increase women’s representation in foreign services.
    - Leadership Roles: Women diplomats from India have served in prominent positions globally, serving as ambassadors, consuls, and in other leadership roles.
Ministry of Finance
1. Stand-Up India Scheme
  1. Launched in April 2016, the Stand-Up India Scheme facilitates bank loans ranging from Rs. 10 lakh to Rs 1 crore for setting up greenfield enterprises in manufacturing, trading, or services sectors. It specifically targets women, as well as Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) entrepreneurs, to foster inclusive entrepreneurship.
2. Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) –It aims to provide financial assistance to non-corporate, non-farm small and micro enterprises through loans of up to Rs. 10 lakh.
  1. Objective: Provides micro-financing to small businesses, with a specific focus on women entrepreneurs.
  2. Women-Specific Focus: Encourages women to start businesses and access affordable credit for their ventures.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
1. Sports for Women
  1. Objective: The scheme is to promote and support sports participation among women, improve their access to sports infrastructure, and encourage gender equality in the field of sports. The program is designed to address barriers that women face in sports, such as societal and cultural constraints, and to provide them with opportunities for training, development, and competition.
  2. This scheme is part of India’s broader efforts to uplift women’s participation in sports, and it also aligns with other initiatives like the Khelo India program that encourages youth, including women, to take up sports as a career.

Women Centric Schemes by Different Ministries of Government of India (GOI)

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