Odisha has registered a high-impact performance in the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) for the current fiscal year (2025-26), securing the 5th rank nationally. The state’s operational efficiency has facilitated the approval of 8,327 micro-enterprise projects and led to the release of over ₹62.71 crore in Margin Money subsidy through 15 different banks.
The most notable development, however, is the composition of the applicants: Odisha has topped the country in receiving the highest number of applications from the General Category unemployed youth this fiscal year.
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The Dynamics of Self-Propelled Entrepreneurship
Of the 9,924 applications received from 30 districts, 5,858 came from the General Category. This signifies a fundamental shift, indicating that a large segment of the state’s youth is proactively seeking self-employment even with a relatively lower subsidy (15-25%) that necessitates a higher 10% contribution from the beneficiary. This broad base of participation suggests that PMEGP is evolving into a truly inclusive platform, attracting talent independent of the special category benefits.
In comparison, the remaining applications for the year include 1,828 from Other Backward Classes (OBC), 1,392 from Scheduled Castes (SC), 783 from Scheduled Tribes (ST), and 63 from minorities.
The scheme, which provides loans up to ₹50 lakh for manufacturing units and ₹20 lakh for service sector enterprises, offers a subsidy ranging from 15% to 35% depending on the beneficiary’s category and the location (urban or rural).