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.