Sreeram Viswanath

Expert

Published on: Sep 17, 2026

Udyam Sakhi Portal

The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in India is committed to boosting women entrepreneurship through the establishment of the Udyam Sakhi Portal. This online platform is designed to nurture entrepreneurial skills, develop business models for economic products, and empower women to become self-reliant.

The Idea

The concept of launching a dedicated platform for women entrepreneurs originated from a study by NITI Aayog. It highlighted that certain districts in India, despite being categorized as backward, demonstrated progress in education and health by providing opportunities for women. This encouraged the Ministry of MSME to create a supportive environment exclusively for women entrepreneurs.

Importance of the Portal

Despite the fact that around 80 lakh women make up a significant portion of India's population, the nation still ranks low in terms of women entrepreneurship. These women require revenue generation opportunities to foster self-sufficiency. Entrepreneurship not only facilitates financial independence but also enhances self-esteem. The Udyam Sakhi Portal equips women with essential technical support to kickstart their ventures. Additionally, it plays a crucial role in strengthening the nation's economy by enabling women to establish SMEs across diverse sectors with government assistance. To understand the importance of proper business registration for launching a new venture, explore business registration essentials.

How is it Different?

An MSME official points out that while there are numerous government schemes for entrepreneurship support, this initiative is unique as it offers a trusting environment where women are mentored by people of the same gender, enhancing trust and seamless sharing. Mentors may include social entrepreneurs, senior executives, retired businesswomen, former bank officials, or NGO members. For those interested in the broader entrepreneur support schemes provided by the government, this portal provides an excellent resource.

The initiative also aims to boost all sectors under MSME, including Khadi, Rural, and Care industries, by collaborating with other ministries, state governments, and stakeholders. For women interested in additional entrepreneurship opportunities, consider exploring the NEDFI Women Enterprise Development Scheme.

Gamut of Services

The Udyam Sakhi Portal provides a range of services to women entrepreneurs through its various functions:

  • Entrepreneurship learning tools
  • Incubation facility
  • Training programs for fundraising
  • Access to experienced mentors
  • One-on-one investor meetings
  • Market survey facilities
  • Comprehensive learning and development opportunities, encompassing education, information, technical assistance, and training

For businesses specifically in the food sector, understanding the requirements is crucial, as outlined in the Food Business Registration Guide. Additionally, those looking to set up a proprietorship can explore options for business registration for sole proprietorship.

Overall, the Udyam Sakhi Portal is a pivotal step towards fostering a vibrant ecosystem for women entrepreneurs in India, ensuring wider participation, and facilitating the creation of sustainable businesses.

Back to Learn

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Udyam Sakhi Portal: Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in India.

The Udyam Sakhi Portal is an initiative launched by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in India to promote and nurture women entrepreneurship. It aims to empower women by creating business models for economical products and services, making them self-reliant and self-sufficient.
The idea behind the Udyam Sakhi Portal was derived from a NITI Aayog study which found that backward districts providing ample opportunities to women were excelling in areas like education and health. This prompted the Ministry of MSME to create a unique platform for women entrepreneurs.
India ranks low in women entrepreneurship despite having a large female population. The Udyam Sakhi Portal aims to provide revenue and self-sustenance opportunities for women through entrepreneurship, boosting their self-esteem. It also helps women play a role in strengthening the nation's economy by launching SMEs with government assistance.
The Udyam Sakhi Portal is unique because it is designed to create a comfortable environment for women entrepreneurs by involving mentors of the same gender, enhancing trust and seamless sharing. This includes social entrepreneurs, senior executives, retired businesswomen, former bank officials, or members of non-profit organizations.
The Udyam Sakhi Portal offers a range of services, including entrepreneurship learning tools, incubation facilities, training programs for fundraising, providing mentors, one-on-one investor meetings, facilities for market surveys, and learning and development through education, information, technical assistance, and training.
The Udyam Sakhi Portal intends to develop the entire MSME sector, including Khadi, Rural, and Care industry. It aims to provide assistance from other ministries, state governments, and stakeholders to support women entrepreneurs in these sectors.
The Udyam Sakhi Portal aims to empower women by providing them with the necessary technical support, mentorship, and resources to initiate their businesses. It encourages women to become self-reliant and self-sufficient through entrepreneurship, contributing to the nation's economic growth.
The creation of the Udyam Sakhi Portal was prompted by a NITI Aayog study that revealed that backward districts providing ample opportunities to women were performing better in areas like education and health. This inspired the Ministry of MSME to create a dedicated platform for women entrepreneurs.
The Udyam Sakhi Portal provides facilities for market surveys to women entrepreneurs, helping them understand and access potential markets for their products or services. It also offers one-on-one investor meetings to connect them with potential investors and expand their reach.
The Udyam Sakhi Portal involves women mentors, including social entrepreneurs, senior executives, retired businesswomen, former bank officials, and members of non-profit organizations. This approach enhances trust and creates a culture of seamless sharing, as women entrepreneurs may feel more comfortable interacting with mentors of the same gender.