The PM Vishwakarma Scheme is a Central Government initiative launched on 17 September 2023 to support traditional artisans and craftspeople working with their hands and tools. It covers 18 traditional trades, including carpentry, blacksmithing, pottery, goldsmithing, tailoring and cobbling. Under the scheme, eligible beneficiaries receive recognition through a PM Vishwakarma certificate and ID card, skill training, a toolkit incentive of up to ₹15,000, and collateral-free loans of up to ₹3 lakh in two instalments at a concessional interest rate of 5%. The scheme also provides support for digital transactions and marketing to help artisans expand their businesses. The initiative aims to preserve India’s traditional crafts, improve the skills and earning opportunities of artisans, and help them become more self-reliant.