NABARD Entrepreneurship Development Schemes

Purpose

MEDP provides short-duration, location-specific skill and enterprise training to mature SHG members, helping them establish or strengthen micro-enterprises in farm and off-farm activities. LEDP adopts a broader cluster-based approach and provides skills, refresher training, credit linkage, input linkage, market linkage and sustained handholding to SHG/JLG members across contiguous villages. Other NABARD entrepreneurship interventions include rural skill development, OFPO promotion, incubation centres, startup catalytic support and rural marketing facilities.
nabard.org

Key documents:

Requirements vary by programme and implementing agency. Participants commonly need Aadhaar or another photo identity document, residence proof, passport-size photographs, bank passbook/account details, SHG or JLG membership proof, group resolution or recommendation, social-category certificate where relevant, mobile
number and basic details of the proposed activity. For credit linkage, the bank may additionally require PAN, Udyam Registration, project report, machinery/equipment quotations, income and expenditure estimates, group records, repayment history and statutory registrations. An implementing agency seeking NABARD grant support generally submits its registration documents, audited accounts, experience profile, governing-body details, programme proposal, participant list, training plan, budget, market assessment, bank-linkage plan and undertaking as required by the applicable guidelines.

Relevant Government Reference / Government Resolution / Orders / Circulars

NABARD was established under the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Act, 1981. Its entrepreneurship programmes operate under NABARD’s internal policy guidelines, circulars, delegated powers and applicable directions of the Government of India and RBI. MEDP has been supported by NABARD since 2006, while LEDP was introduced in 2015-16. NABARD updated the MEDP and LEDP guidelines in 2023-24, adding JLG members, participant stipends, market-linkage training, e-marketing, branding, packaging and demonstration-unit support.

Online Facility Available

Available, but programme- and location-dependent. MEDP, LEDP, skill development, OFPO, incubation and marketing-support initiatives are implemented through sanctioned projects and approved agencies. Availability in a specific district depends on an active programme, local livelihood opportunity, implementing partner, participant group and NABARD approval. As of 31 March 2024, NABARD reported 20,822 MEDPs benefiting approximately 6.12 lakh SHG members and 2,449 LEDPs supporting about 3 lakh SHG members

Online Application Link

NABARD official website: nabard.org Microfinance and MEDP/LEDP information: NABARD Microfinance Sector

Applicable Fee

NABARD does not prescribe a universal individual application fee for participation in MEDP or LEDP. Training costs are generally supported through NABARD grant assistance sanctioned to the implementing agency, subject to programme guidelines. Participants should confirm whether any contribution is required for materials, certification, travel, accommodation or enterprise inputs. If a participant subsequently takes a bank loan, the lender’s interest, processing, documentation, insurance and statutory charges may apply separately.

Mode of Fee Payment

Where a legitimate participant contribution is required, it should be paid only to the approved implementing agency or concerned institution through its authorised payment channel and against a receipt. Loan-related fees should be paid directly to the financing bank. Applicants should not pay private agents who claim to guarantee selection, grant assistance or loan sanction.
NABARD grant assistance to an implementing agency is released according to sanctioned programme conditions and not through an informal payment arrangement with participants.

Decision-Making Authority

Concerned implementing agency / competent authority specified in the scheme guidelines.

Time Required for Decision

No uniform processing period applies across all NABARD entrepreneurship programmes. The timeline depends on proposal completeness, due diligence of the implementing agency, district and Regional Office appraisal, delegated committee approval, availability of budget and fulfilment of pre-sanction conditions. For participants, selection depends on mobilisation and commencement of an approved local training batch. Bank-credit sanction after training is a separate process and depends on the lender’s appraisal. NABARD states that sanctions are accorded through delegated committees under the applicable programme guidelines.

Online Grievance Redressal Link

Complaints, enquiries or feedback may be submitted through NABARD’s Grievance / Enquiry / Feedback facility available on its official website. The grievance portal provides complaint submission, escalation information, grievance-officer details and status tracking. Applicants should include the programme name, implementing agency, district, batch details, bank details where relevant and copies of supporting communications. NABARD grievance facility nabard.org

Office Address

NABARD Head Office: Plot C-24, G-Block, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East, Mumbai – 400051, Maharashtra. Rural MSME Department: 5th Floor, B-Wing, C-24, G-Block, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East, Mumbai – 400051. Applicants should ordinarily contact the relevant NABARD Regional Office or District Development Manager for a local programme.

Contact Telephone Number

NABARD Head Office: 022-26539895 / 022-26539896 / 022-26539899.
Rural MSME Department: 022-68120036. Office hours displayed by NABARD are Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, excluding public holidays. District and Regional Office numbers are available through NABARD’s office locator.

Official Contact Email ID

Rural MSME Department: rmsmed@nabard.org. For a district-specific proposal or individual enquiry, applicants should use the official e-mail ID of the relevant NABARD Regional Office or District Development Manager available through the office locator. Complaints should preferably be filed through the online grievance facility so that they can be tracked and escalated.

Beneficiary:

As mentioned above

Benefits:

Participants may receive skill training, enterprise-management guidance, financial literacy, assistance with business planning, refresher training, daily stipend where permitted, demonstration support, bank-credit linkage, raw-material linkage, branding, packaging, e-marketing, market linkage and post-training handholding. LEDP can provide escort and handholding services over two credit cycles. NABARD generally provides grant assistance to an approved implementing agency for programme delivery rather than paying a universal cash subsidy directly to every participant. [nabard.org]