STEP Women Training — Quick Overview
| Scheme Name | STEP Scheme 2026 — Support to Training & Employment Programme for Women |
| Launched By | Government of India |
| Launch Year | 1986 |
| Benefit | Free skill training + entrepreneurship development for women aged 16+ via approved NGOs/PSUs |
| Category | Women |
| Last Verified | 23 May 2026 |
| Official Portal | https://wcd.nic.in |
What is STEP Women Training?
Support to Training and Employment Programme for Women (STEP), launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, is a key Government of India scheme that empowers women aged 16 years and above by providing skill training in employment-relevant sectors as well as entrepreneurship development training. The scheme is implemented through Public Sector Organisations, District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs), Federations, Cooperatives, and registered Voluntary Organisations (NGOs). STEP covers skill training in sectors such as Agriculture & Horticulture, Food Processing, Handlooms & Handicrafts, Tailoring, Stitching, Embroidery, Zari work, Computer & IT-enabled services, Gems & Jewellery, Travel & Tourism, Hospitality, and Spoken English — combining technical skills with soft skills, workplace readiness, and entrepreneurship know-how. Project grants of up to ₹2 crore per project per year are given to approved organisations to train 50–500 women each. The aim is to make women economically independent through wage employment or self-employment.
Under this scheme, eligible beneficiaries receive Free skill training + entrepreneurship development for women aged 16+ via approved NGOs/PSUs. The scheme was launched in 1986 and is implemented by the Government of India.
Benefits of STEP Women Training
Free skill training + entrepreneurship development for women aged 16+ via approved NGOs/PSUs
Who is Eligible for STEP Women Training?
- ✓Women aged 16 years and above (no upper age limit)
- ✓Indian citizens — open to all states/UTs and all categories (general/SC/ST/OBC/minority/disability)
- ✓Special focus on women from marginalised communities (SC/ST/OBC/minority/disabled/BPL)
- ✓No income criteria for trainees — open to all economic backgrounds
- ✓Training implementing organisations: Public Sector Units, DRDAs, Cooperatives, NGOs registered under Societies Act/Trust Act
- ✓Implementing NGOs must have NGO Darpan ID and minimum 3 years experience in women's training
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Documents Required for STEP Women Training
How to Apply for STEP Women Training Online?
- 1Identify a STEP-approved training organisation in your area — check list at wcd.nic.in → 'STEP Scheme' → 'Approved Organisations'
- 2Visit the implementing organisation (DRDA office / PSU training centre / approved NGO) with Aadhaar and basic documents
- 3Complete the registration form — select sector of interest (tailoring, food processing, computer, etc.)
- 4Undergo aptitude/interview process — selection based on motivation and minimum qualification (varies by sector)
- 5Attend the training programme — typically 6 months to 1 year duration (sector-dependent)
- 6Training includes: technical skills + soft skills + workplace readiness + entrepreneurship/financial literacy
- 7Receive monthly stipend during training (varies by implementing agency — typically ₹500–₹2,000/month for travel/material)
- 8On completion, get sector-specific certification + placement assistance (linked employers for wage employment, or seed funding for self-employment)
- 9For aspiring women entrepreneurs: training includes business plan development + assistance to access PMEGP/Stand-Up India/Mudra loans for self-employment
Official Government Portal
Apply directly on the official government website. This is the only authorised portal — never pay anyone to apply on your behalf.
🔗Apply on wcd.nic.inFrequently Asked Questions — STEP Women Training
Common Questions About Women Schemes
What is PM Ujjwala Yojana 2.0?+
PMUY 2.0 extends the scheme to more beneficiaries including migrants and adds portability for refills anywhere in India.
How to apply for PM Ujjwala Yojana?+
Visit the nearest LPG distributor (HP, Bharatgas, or Indane) or apply online at pmuy.gov.in with your Aadhaar and BPL certificate.
What is the current interest rate for Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana?+
The interest rate is 8.2% per annum for FY 2025-26, compounded annually. This rate is reviewed quarterly by the government. It is one of the highest government-guaranteed rates in India — higher than PPF (7.1%) and NSC (7.7%).
Where can I open a Sukanya Samriddhi account?+
Open an SSY account at any post office or authorized banks: SBI, PNB, Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Canara Bank, HDFC, ICICI, Axis Bank, and most major banks. You need the girl's birth certificate and parent's Aadhaar/PAN.
What are the key benefits of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao?+
Benefits include financial incentives for families with girl children, free education support, improved healthcare for girls, and community awareness programs to prevent female foeticide.
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Related Women Schemes
PM Ujjwala Yojana 2.0 — Free LPG Connection
Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana provides free LPG gas connections to women from below poverty line households to replace unhealthy cooking fuel usage.
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana 2026 — 8.2% Interest Girl Child Savings Scheme
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is a government-backed savings scheme for girl children offering one of the highest fixed interest rates (8.2% p.a.) with full tax exemption under Section 80C. Minimum deposit just Rs.250/year; maximum Rs.1.5 lakh/year. Account matures 21 years from opening or at marriage after age 18.
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Yojana 2026 — Girl Child Education & Welfare Scheme
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) is a national mission launched in 2015 to address India's declining child sex ratio (CSR) and ensure the survival, protection, education, and empowerment of the girl child. The scheme operates across all 640 districts with a multi-ministry approach involving Women and Child Development, Health, and Education. Key interventions include community awareness campaigns against sex-selective abortion, free education support for girl students under the Sukanya Samriddhi and Udaan programmes, and Anganwadi-based health support. Financial incentives like Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana accounts are linked to BBBP to encourage families to invest in their daughters' future.
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) 2025
PMMVY provides Rs.5,000 cash incentive to pregnant and lactating women for the first living child to partially compensate for wage loss and encourage institutional delivery and proper nutrition.