SCHEMES FOR URBAN POOR

1. At a Glance

Urban Poverty Alleviation is a State subject; the Union government supplements State/UT efforts via centrally-sponsored schemes administered by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) [S1][S3].
Core pillars: DAY-NULM (livelihoods/skilling/SHGs), PM SVANidhi (street-vendor micro-credit), PMAY-U / PMAY-U 2.0 (affordable housing) [S1][S2][S3].
High-yield UPSC topic linking GS-II (welfare schemes, federalism) and GS-III (inclusive growth, urban poverty).

2. Why in the News

PIB release (29 Jan 2026) by MoHUA consolidated status of urban-poor schemes, noting DAY-NULM ended on 30.09.2024 [S1].
PM SVANidhi restructured by Union Cabinet; lending period extended to 31 March 2030 with outlay of ₹7,332 crore [S2].
PMAY-U 2.0 sanctioning underway — cumulative 8.56 lakh houses sanctioned by Aug 2025 [S3].

3. Background & Evolution

SJSRY (1997) → restructured as NULM (2013) → renamed DAY-NULM (2016) combining rural (DAY-NRLM) + urban livelihood missions [S1].
PMAY-Urban launched 25 June 2015; PMAY-U 2.0 approved by Cabinet on 9 Aug 2024 [S3].
PM SVANidhi launched 1 June 2020 as a COVID-recovery micro-credit scheme for street vendors [S2].

4. Core Static Facts

Parent ministry: Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) [S1].
DAY-NULM tenure ended: 30.09.2024 [S1].
DAY-NULM cumulative outcomes (as on 30.09.2024): 10,02,545 SHGs formed; 15,42,952 candidates skill-trained; 1,995 shelters with capacity ~1.41 lakh beds [S1].
PM SVANidhi loan tranches (restructured): 1st ₹15,000 (↑ from ₹10,000); 2nd ₹25,000 (↑ from ₹20,000); 3rd ₹50,000 unchanged [S2].
PM SVANidhi target: 1.15 crore beneficiaries including 50 lakh new; outlay ₹7,332 crore [S2].
PM SVANidhi disbursal (till 31 Jan 2026): 72.71 lakh street vendors availed loans [S2].
PMAY-U 2.0 verticals: BLC, AHP, ARH, ISS (Interest Subsidy Scheme) [S3].
PMAY-U 2.0 cumulative sanctions (Aug 2025): 8.56 lakh houses [S3].
PM SVANidhi enabling Act linkage: Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 (provides ID/Certificate of Vending — eligibility basis).

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Economic - PM SVANidhi delivers collateral-free working-capital credit, integrating informal vendors into formal finance via UPI-linked RuPay credit cards; cashback up to ₹1,600 [S2]. - DAY-NULM's SHG-bank linkage and skill training target wage/self-employment for urban poor [S1].

Social - Gendered targeting: >1.25 lakh PMAY-U 2.0 houses sanctioned for women, including single women & widows in June 2025 round [S3]. - Shelters for urban homeless (SUH component) — 1.41 lakh-bed capacity addresses pavement-dweller vulnerability [S1].

Administrative / Federalism - Urban poverty = State subject; Centre's role is supplementary via CSS [S1]. - CSMC (Central Sanctioning & Monitoring Committee) clears state-wise PMAY-U 2.0 proposals [S3].

Legal / Constitutional - Anchored in Article 243W & 12th Schedule (urban planning, slum upgradation, poverty alleviation as municipal functions). - PM SVANidhi operates within Street Vendors Act, 2014 framework.

Technological - PM SVANidhi mobile app, SVANidhi se Samriddhi socio-economic profiling, UPI-RuPay credit linkage [S2].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

9 Aug 2024: Cabinet approves PMAY-U 2.0 [S3].
30 Sept 2024: DAY-NULM implementation period ends [S1].
June 2025: 3rd CSMC sanctions 2.35 lakh houses under PMAY-U 2.0 across 9 states [S3].
Aug 2025: Additional 1.47 lakh houses sanctioned in 14 States/UTs; cumulative reaches 8.56 lakh [S3].
2025: Cabinet restructures PM SVANidhi — extended to 31.03.2030, outlay ₹7,332 cr, raised tranche limits [S2].
29 Jan 2026: MoHUA PIB consolidated status release [S1].

7. Prelims Hooks

Urban Poverty Alleviation is a State subject under the Indian Constitution [S1].
DAY-NULM implementation period ended on 30 September 2024 [S1].
10,02,545 SHGs formed under DAY-NULM as of 30.09.2024 [S1].
PM SVANidhi was launched in June 2020 by MoHUA [S1][S2].
PM SVANidhi first-tranche loan ceiling raised to ₹15,000 under 2025 restructuring [S2].
PM SVANidhi restructured lending period now extends to 31 March 2030 [S2].
Restructured PM SVANidhi outlay: ₹7,332 crore; target 1.15 crore beneficiaries [S2].
PMAY-U 2.0 approved by Union Cabinet on 9 August 2024 [S3].
PMAY-U 2.0 has four verticals: BLC, AHP, ARH, ISS [S3].
8.56 lakh houses sanctioned cumulatively under PMAY-U 2.0 (Aug 2025) [S3].
DAY-NULM created shelters for urban homeless with capacity of ~1.41 lakh beds [S1].
PM SVANidhi introduces UPI-linked RuPay credit cards for street vendors [S2].

8. Mains Relevance

GS-II: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections; mechanisms for protection & betterment.
GS-III: Inclusive growth, issues relating to poverty and employment.
Probable stems: 1. "Critically evaluate the role of PM SVANidhi in formalising the urban informal economy." 2. "Urban poverty in India is structurally different from rural poverty. Discuss in light of recent MoHUA interventions." 3. "Examine whether PMAY-U 2.0 addresses the gaps left by PMAY-U (2015–2024)."

9. Related Topics to Study Next

Street Vendors Act, 2014 — statutory basis for PM SVANidhi eligibility.
DAY-NRLM — rural counterpart; useful for compare-contrast questions.
Smart Cities Mission & AMRUT 2.0 — sister MoHUA urban schemes.
Article 243W & 12th Schedule — constitutional anchoring of municipal welfare.
Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) — for urban unemployment data.
Tendulkar / Rangarajan poverty estimates — measurement debates.
National Urban Digital Mission — tech backbone for service delivery.
PMJDY & Mudra Yojana — financial inclusion ecosystem PM SVANidhi sits within.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

Wrong Ministry: DAY-NULM is under MoHUA, NOT Ministry of Rural Development (which runs DAY-NRLM).
DAY-NULM is NOT ongoing — ended 30.09.2024; assume successor / extension only if explicitly notified [S1].
PM SVANidhi tranche figures — post-2025 restructure, 1st = ₹15,000 (not ₹10,000) and 2nd = ₹25,000 (not ₹20,000) [S2].
PMAY-U vs PMAY-G confusion — PMAY-U 2.0 has 4 verticals (BLC/AHP/ARH/ISS); CLSS of original PMAY-U is replaced by ISS in 2.0 [S3].
Street Vendors Act year is 2014, not 2013 (year of NULM).

11. Sources

[S1] SCHEMES FOR URBAN POOR — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2220349 — (tier 1)
[S2] SVANidhi: Empowering Street Vendors / Cabinet restructuring release — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2206995 ; https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2161157 — (tier 1)
[S3] PMAY-Urban 2.0 sanctions (CSMC June & Aug 2025) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2137416 ; https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2156126 ; https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2043927 — (tier 1)