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A Study on the Impact of Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana on the Economic Development of the Weaker Sections in India (with Special Reference to Uttar Pradesh)
DOI:DOI:18.A003.aarf.J14I01.010274
Sharad Kumar Chaturvedi Dr. Dharmaveer
Abstract:
The Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), launched in 2015, is a large-scale credit intervention designed to catalyse micro-entrepreneurship and self-employment by providing collateral-free loans up to ₹10 lakh (enhanced to ₹20 lakh for eligible categories in 2024) to non-corporate, non-farm micro and small enterprises. This paper assesses PMMY’s contribution to economic development among the weaker sections, including women, Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST), Other Backwards Classes (OBC), minorities, and low-income informal entrepreneurs, using India-wide trends and a focused lens on Uttar Pradesh (UP). Drawing on government administrative datasets, parliamentary replies, annual reports of MUDRA Ltd., and independent assessments (e.g., NITI Aayog/KPMG), the study synthesises evidence on outreach, inclusivity, employment effects, credit graduation (Shishu→Kishor→Tarun), and portfolio quality. The paper further proposes an econometric strategy to identify programme impacts on district-level outcomes in UP (employment, own-account enterprises, women-led firms, and consumption smoothing). Findings from the reviewed evidence indicate (i) strong outreach to women and SC/ST/OBC borrowers, (ii) meaningful progression from nano to micro enterprise scales over time, (iii) non-trivial self-reported employment generation and income gains, and (iv) a declining non-performing assets (NPA) ratio as the portfolio matures. However, concerns persist regarding the adequacy of loan sizes, uneven last-mile support, and heterogeneity in impacts across different geographies and social groups. Policy recommendations focus on enhancing complementary services (market access, digital bookkeeping), risk-based pricing with protection, and state-specific convergence in UP.