The Chief Minister Soft Loan Scheme (CMSLS), a new program designed to enable technically skilled youngsters from Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) to become entrepreneurs and contribute to an independent Arunachal Pradesh, was unveiled by Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu. Khandu announced the program on social media, stating that it will be run by the Department of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and will help ITI alumni who graduated within the previous three years beginning in 2022.
The Chief Minister declared, “We invest in the future of this land when we invest in skills, entrepreneurship, and in our youth.” Soft loans up to ₹1 lakh in the first and up to ₹2 lakh in the second are available to qualified applicants under the CMSLS. Beneficiaries would also receive a ₹15,000 toolkit incentive to assist them in starting independent businesses in their particular trades. The government will offer a 25% loan subsidy in addition to a 7% interest subsidy to further reduce the financial strain.Khandu emphasized that the initiative aims to help young people transform their technical skills into sustainable livelihoods, shifting the focus from job seeking to job creation.
The scheme will support small-scale entrepreneurship in various trades like electrical works, welding, carpentry, and tailoring, and will enhance existing programs such as the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana and Startup India Mission. Application forms for the CMSLS are available on the state’s skill development portal, with submissions due by December 31, 2025. Khandu reaffirmed his government’s commitment to empowering the youth of Arunachal Pradesh, highlighting the scheme as a crucial step towards building a self-reliant economy driven by young entrepreneurs.
