StreetVendors – Delhi Street Vendors Receive Over Rs 16 Crore Under PM SVANidhi Scheme
StreetVendors – Nearly 5,000 street vendors operating under the Municipal Corporation of Delhi have benefited from financial assistance through the Central Government’s PM SVANidhi scheme during the first few months of the 2026-27 financial year. The latest figures show that banks have sanctioned loans exceeding Rs 16 crore, helping vendors strengthen their businesses while rewarding those who maintained timely repayments of earlier loans.
Majority of Beneficiaries Qualified for Higher Loan Amounts
According to official data, banks provided loans to 4,931 eligible street vendors between April and the beginning of July 2026, with total disbursements reaching Rs 16.08 crore. A significant number of recipients received assistance under the third stage of the scheme, reflecting consistent repayment records and continued participation in the programme. Officials noted that vendors who repay previous loans on schedule become eligible for larger financial support in subsequent stages.
Loan Distribution Shows Strong Uptake Across Categories
The financial assistance was spread across all three loan categories available under the scheme. Around 1,090 vendors received first-stage loans ranging between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000, taking the total value of these disbursements to Rs 1.60 crore.
Meanwhile, 1,774 beneficiaries secured second-stage loans of Rs 20,000 or Rs 25,000, with banks releasing approximately Rs 4.18 crore under this category. The highest number of beneficiaries fell under the third stage, where 2,067 vendors received loans of Rs 50,000 each. These approvals alone accounted for Rs 10.30 crore of the overall amount distributed during the current financial year.
Scheme Encourages Responsible Borrowing
The PM SVANidhi programme has been structured to encourage financial discipline among street vendors. Eligible vendors holding a valid Certificate of Vending (CoV) can access collateral-free loans in three progressive stages. After successfully repaying one loan, beneficiaries become eligible to apply for the next higher amount.
Through this system, vendors can receive cumulative financial assistance of up to Rs 90,000 across all three loan stages. The initiative is designed to help small business owners restart operations, improve working capital and gradually expand their businesses without the burden of providing security for the loans.
Previous Financial Year Recorded Higher Overall Disbursements
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi also shared performance figures from the previous financial year, highlighting the continued expansion of the scheme across the capital. During 2025-26, banks disbursed loans worth Rs 61.89 crore to 21,955 eligible street vendors.
Among them, 3,762 beneficiaries received first-stage loans amounting to Rs 5.28 crore. A much larger group of 13,226 vendors obtained second-stage assistance worth Rs 31.82 crore. Additionally, 4,967 beneficiaries qualified for third-stage loans, with total disbursements under that category reaching Rs 24.79 crore.
Focus on Business Growth and Financial Stability
Launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the PM SVANidhi scheme was introduced to support street vendors by providing accessible, collateral-free credit. The programme seeks to improve financial inclusion while enabling vendors to sustain daily operations, increase inventory, and gradually grow their businesses through affordable institutional lending.
Officials believe the steady rise in third-stage loan approvals demonstrates that many vendors are successfully repaying earlier borrowings and building stronger financial records. This trend also reflects increasing confidence in formal banking channels among small traders who traditionally depended on informal sources of credit.