• Entrepreneurship Development Programme for end-to-end support for creation of rural enterprises.
  • Digital-first, hybrid delivery model
  • End-to-end credit facilitation framework

Mumbai: Fostering rural prosperity has always been at the heart of NABARD’s vision and developmental mandate. On NABARD’s 45th Foundation Day, Gramodyam, a transformative Entrepreneurship Development Programme designed to unlock the entrepreneurial potential of rural India has been launched by Dr. Shaji K V, Chairman, NABARD. This initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the aegis of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), marking a significant step towards building a vibrant ecosystem for rural entrepreneurship. The initiative will be implemented through Institute for Industrial Development (IID).

Gramodyam is dedicated to the youth of rural India. The programme seeks to identify, nurture, mentor and empower aspiring entrepreneurs by equipping them with industry-relevant skills, entrepreneurial competencies and access to essential support systems. By enabling young innovators to convert ideas into viable enterprises, Gramodyam aims to transform local opportunities into engines of sustainable economic growth and employment generation.

The programme adopts a digital-first, hybrid delivery model to ensure equitable outreach across all States and Union Territories. Through a combination of digital platforms, social media engagement, community outreach and on-ground mobilization, aspiring entrepreneurs will be enrolled and guided through a structured entrepreneurial journey. This journey will include psychometric assessments, counselling, Entrepreneurship Development training, industry/ trade specific training, mentoring and enterprise establishment support, ensuring that participants receive comprehensive guidance from ideation to enterprise creation.

Going beyond conventional skill development, Gramodyam offers an integrated support framework encompassing business opportunity identification, business planning, enterprise management training, credit facilitation, market linkages, mentorship and post-establishment handholding. The programme is designed not only to create self-employment opportunities but also to catalyse local job creation and community development through sustainable enterprise growth, contributing to inclusive and resilient rural economic growth.

All beneficiaries enrolled under the programme will undergo e-KYC verification through NSDC, ensuring transparency and authenticity of participation. During the pilot phase, Gramodyam aims to support the creation of approximately 4,000 rural entrepreneurs over a period of three years through a scalable and organic delivery mechanism.

A key feature of Gramodyam is its end-to-end credit facilitation framework. Participants will receive expert support in preparing bankable Detailed Project Reports, establishing linkages with NABARD-supported Regional Rural Banks, and other financial institutions for credit support. The programme will provide digital loan application assistance and guidance on relevant government schemes and incentives, thereby improving access to formal finance and reducing barriers to enterprise creation.

The programme delivery architecture will be integrated with the digital platform of NSDC, enabling real-time monitoring and tracking of participant progress across every stage—from mobilization and training to enterprise establishment and growth. A comprehensive impact assessment framework will monitor key performance indicators such as candidate mobilization, gender inclusivity, training completion rates, certification outcomes, GST and UDYAM registrations, enterprise operationalization, and average sales performance based on verified business records.

Through Gramodyam, NABARD and NSDC reaffirm their commitment to fostering entrepreneurship-led rural transformation. By combining skill development, mentorship, digital innovation, financial access and market connectivity, the programme seeks to create a new generation of rural entrepreneurs who will drive inclusive growth, strengthen local economies and contribute meaningfully to India’s journey towards prosperity and self-reliance contributing Hon’ble PM’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047.