SHE Marts Initiative – Complete Guide for Women Entrepreneurs (2026)

• By Garuda
• February 11, 2026
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The SHE Marts initiative was announced in the Union Budget 2026–27 by the Government of India to empower rural and women entrepreneurs by strengthening market access, enterprise ownership, and sustainable income opportunities. It is NOT a standalone “She Mark” scheme or single application portal.

What is the SHE Marts Initiative?

SHE stands for Self-Help Entrepreneur.

SHE Marts are envisioned as community-owned retail outlets, set up and managed by women self-help groups (SHGs) — especially in agro and allied sectors to:

• Provide permanent retail outlets for women-made products
• Improve market access and visibility
• Support brand building and expansion
• Encourage enterprise ownership instead of just livelihood support
• Serve as a new economic platform for rural women entrepreneurs

In the Budget speech, this was described as a next step after credit-based livelihood models, helping women shift from borrowers to business owners.

Unlike many existing schemes focused on micro-credit, SHE Marts are meant to be formal retail avenues where women entrepreneurs can sell, scale, and grow collectively owned enterprises rather than individual micro-businesses.

Why SHE Marts Matter

1. Boosts Rural Livelihoods

The initiative targets women in rural areas, especially those linked to SHGs, with the goal of creating market-linked enterprise opportunities rather than ad-hoc income.

2. Enterprise Ownership Shift

It builds on the success of existing programmes (e.g., Lakhpati Didi) by helping women transition from credit-led livelihood support to enterprise ownership with retail participation.

3. Market Access & Branding

SHE Marts give women producers a formal consumer audience, helping them market and sell their products directly — reducing dependence on intermediaries and increasing profit share.

4. Community-Level Empowerment

The retail outlets are community owned and run by collectives or federations of women entrepreneurs, expanding grassroots economic empowerment.

How SHE Marts Will Work (Budget 2026 Vision)

Structure

1. Set up within cluster-level federations of SHGs
2. Managed by women entrepreneurs
3. Supported through enhanced and innovative financing instruments

Objective

Create permanent community retail outlets where products like:

1. Handicrafts
2. Agro products
3. Processed foods
4. Textiles
5. Local brands

can be sold directly to consumers with visibility and scale.

Financing & Support

The Budget proposal mentioned innovative and enhanced financing to ensure working capital and operations are backed with flexible and accessible support exact operational modalities are expected to be detailed by implementing ministries.

Key Clarifications (IMPORTANT)

1. This is not a “She Mark” scheme — the correct name is SHE Marts (Self-Help Entrepreneur Marts) introduced in Budget 2026–27.
2. There is no single centralized online application form for SHE Marts as of announcement. Implementation details, eligibility, and application methodologies will be issued by the government later through official notifications.
3. SHE Marts are market infrastructure and enterprise support structures — not direct subsidy, grant or loan schemes.
4. They aim to complement existing women entrepreneurship platforms and MSME support systems.

What Women Entrepreneurs Should Know

1. Link to Existing Platforms

Women interested in entrepreneurship — whether through SHE Marts or other programmes should begin with:

Women Entrepreneurship Platform (Official Portal)

The official government portal for resources, mentorship, and linkages, backed by NITI Aayog and expanding into state programmes.

2. Formalize Your Business

To participate in supported programmes and secure access to finance, consider:

1. MSME (Udyam) Registration – strengthens formal business recognition.
2. Other government schemes – available through WEP and related schemes. (You can link MSME portal where appropriate.)

Bottom Line

SHE Marts are a transformative women-centric marketplace initiative introduced in the Union Budget 2026 to help rural and SHG-linked women transition from micro-credit-based livelihoods to enterprise owners through structured, community-owned retail channels.

This initiative aligns with India’s broader goals of:

1. Inclusive growth
2. Women’s economic participation
3. Rural empowerment
4. Deepening formal entrepreneurship ecosystems

and should be shared accurately using those correct terms on your website or content platforms.

Q1: What is SHE Marts?

SHE Marts (Self-Help Entrepreneur Marts) is a Union Budget 2026 initiative aimed at creating community-owned retail outlets managed by women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to improve market access and enterprise development.

Q2: What does “SHE” stand for?

SHE stands for Self-Help Entrepreneur.

Q3: Is SHE Marts a loan or subsidy scheme?

No. SHE Marts is not a direct loan, grant, or subsidy scheme. It is a market-access and retail infrastructure initiative designed to support women-led SHG enterprises.

Q4: Who will benefit from SHE Marts?

The initiative primarily benefits:

1. Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs)
2. Rural women entrepreneurs
3. Women-led collective enterprises
4. Agro and allied sector women producers

Q5: Is there an official SHE Marts website?

As of now, there is no standalone SHE Marts website or application portal. Detailed implementation guidelines are expected to be issued by the concerned ministries.

Q6: Can an individual woman apply directly for SHE Marts?

Currently, there is no individual online application process announced.
The initiative is expected to be implemented through existing SHG and rural livelihood networks.

Q7: Which government department will implement SHE Marts?

The initiative is expected to be implemented through the Ministry of Rural Development, likely under frameworks such as the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), though detailed operational guidelines are awaited.

Q8: What kind of products will be sold in SHE Marts?

SHE Marts are expected to retail products made by SHGs and women entrepreneurs, such as:

1. Handicrafts
2. Processed food items
3. Agro-based products
4. Textiles
5. Local and regional goods

Q9: Is MSME (Udyam) registration required to participate?

There is no official mandate yet specific to SHE Marts. However, having Udyam (MSME) registration may help women entrepreneurs formalize their business and access additional government benefits.

Q10: When will the scheme start?

The initiative was announced in Union Budget 2026, but detailed timelines, operational structure, and rollout phases are yet to be officially notified.

Q11: Is SHE Marts available in all states?

The initiative is intended to strengthen SHG networks across India.

However, implementation and rollout may vary by state depending on government guidelines and administrative readiness.

Q12: How can women entrepreneurs prepare in the meantime?

Until official guidelines are released, women entrepreneurs can:

1. Ensure their SHG is properly registered
2. Maintain updated documentation
3. Formalize business operations
4. Explore MSME registration
5. Stay updated through official government notifications