₹1,826 crore credit disbursed; 13,597 enterprises operational, 36,474 trained and 9,266 merchants digitally connected
SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 09: The Apex Committee of Mission YUVA (Youth Upliftment and Vibrant Advancement) on Wednesday reviewed the progress of the programme across Jammu & Kashmir, with the government reporting significant growth in youth applications, credit disbursement, enterprise creation, training, mentorship and digital market access.
The meeting, chaired by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, reviewed milestones achieved since the previous Apex Committee meeting held in May 2026, focusing on the Mission’s four broad dimensions of Culture, Capital, Capacity and Connectivity.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Finance; Managing Director, J&K Bank; Commissioner Secretary, Planning; Commissioner Secretary, Industries & Commerce; Director, IIM Jammu; Commissioner Secretary, Education; Secretary, Rural Development; Managing Director, JKRLM; representatives of universities, SKUAST, NABARD and other stakeholders. Deputy Commissioners from all districts participated through video conferencing.
Applications rise 37 per cent
Reviewing the progress, the Chief Secretary stressed the need for close coordination among government departments, financial institutions, training institutions and field-level functionaries to ensure that the growing application base translates into viable enterprises, employment and sustainable economic opportunities for youth.
He also reviewed district-wise progress and called for continued field mobilisation, effective handholding of applicants, timely processing of cases and stronger institutional convergence.
The Chief Secretary particularly emphasised increasing participation of women and youth, strengthening training and mentorship systems and using digital platforms to expand market access for locally produced goods and services.
Secretary, Skill Development Department, Kumar Rajeev Ranjan, presented the latest progress of the Mission and highlighted its expanding institutional and grassroots footprint.
The total application intake has increased by 37 per cent, rising from 1,04,067 on May 15 to 1,42,196 as of September 7, 2026.
SBDU verifications increased by 34 per cent to 80,965, while DLIC approvals rose by 39 per cent to 75,791.
Female participation gains momentum
The meeting was informed that the average daily application intake under the Cultural Mobilisation and Public Awareness component has increased by 39 per cent over the past three months, from 280 to 390 applications per day.
Female-led applications recorded a sharper increase of 76 per cent, rising from 91 to 160 applications per day.
Around 78 per cent of female applications are being driven by Self-Help Groups (SHGs), while the overall share of women among applicants has increased from 27 per cent to 31 per cent.
The Mission’s mass youth mobilisation campaign, Yuva Jagriti 5.0, has so far reached 88,300 individuals, representing a 42 per cent increase since the previous Apex Committee review.
Business hackathons generate 1,300 ideas
Business Hackathons launched on August 15 have reached around 18,000 students across more than 255 educational institutions.
More than 1,300 innovative business ideas have already been generated through the initiative, which is scheduled to continue until September 16.
₹1,992 crore loans sanctioned
Loan sanctions under Mission YUVA have increased by 53 per cent, reaching ₹1,992 crore across 37,171 sanctioned accounts.
Credit disbursement has reached ₹1,826 crore across 32,665 accounts, also registering 53 per cent growth since the previous review.
Commercial banks are currently processing around 2,800 applications every month, while the final sanction rate has improved from 23 per cent in July to 40 per cent in August.
13,597 enterprises operational
The financial support has translated into a significant increase in enterprise creation, with 13,597 new enterprises now fully operational across J&K, representing a 58 per cent increase since May.
Another 6,777 enterprises are currently at the Work-in-Progress stage, with WIP report submissions increasing by 70 per cent.
Training and mentorship expand
The Capacity Building and Business Mentorship component has also recorded substantial growth.
The number of trained individuals has increased by 73 per cent, with 36,474 student and entrepreneur certifications completed so far.
Enterprise mentorship completion has increased seven-fold, or 700 per cent, since the previous review.
A total of 2,645 entrepreneurs have been mentored by 482 onboarded mentors, strengthening the support available to entrepreneurs beyond the initial stages of enterprise establishment.
ONDC connectivity surges
Digital market connectivity has emerged as another major area of expansion under Mission YUVA.
The number of J&K merchant storefronts onboarded on the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) has increased by 329 per cent since May, reaching 9,266 digital stores.
Of these, 2,067 dedicated Mission YUVA youth stores have been fully onboarded on ONDC, providing young entrepreneurs, including those from rural and semi-urban areas, access to the national digital marketplace.
The Chief Secretary appreciated the progress achieved since the May review and called for sustained efforts to convert the Mission’s expanding outreach into viable enterprises, stronger entrepreneurial ecosystems and wider livelihood opportunities for youth across Jammu & Kashmir.
