J&K Mission YUVA Receives 1.07 Lakh Applications; ₹1,200 Crore Credit Sanctioned as CS Atal Dulloo Reviews Progress
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo chaired a high-level Apex Committee meeting of Mission YUVA in Srinagar on Sunday and reviewed the remarkable progress achieved under the Union Territory’s flagship entrepreneurship and employment-generation programme. The initiative, which has emerged as one of the most ambitious youth empowerment missions in Jammu and Kashmir, has already received more than 1.07 lakh applications and facilitated credit sanctions exceeding ₹1,200 crore.
Mission YUVA has been designed to promote entrepreneurship, create sustainable livelihood opportunities, and encourage youth-led economic growth across Jammu and Kashmir. The programme focuses on supporting nano enterprises, facilitating the establishment of new MSMEs, and strengthening existing businesses through financial assistance, institutional support, entrepreneurship training, and market connectivity.
The review meeting was attended by senior officials from multiple departments and institutions, including the Finance Department, Labour & Employment Department, School Education Department, Rural Development Department, Directorate of Employment, Jammu & Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI), district administrations, Jammu & Kashmir Bank, and other financial institutions associated with the implementation of the mission.
During the meeting, Chief Secretary Dulloo, a 1989-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, reviewed the initiative’s progress across its four foundational pillars — Culture, Capital, Capacity, and Connectivity. These pillars collectively aim to build an entrepreneurial ecosystem by promoting entrepreneurial thinking, improving access to finance, strengthening training and skills, and enhancing institutional outreach and support mechanisms.
Officials presented detailed district-wise progress reports, including performance indicators, application approvals, training achievements, loan disbursement status, and implementation bottlenecks. Dulloo emphasized the need for close coordination between government departments, district administrations, banks, and implementation agencies to ensure the initiative achieves its intended impact on employment generation and economic development.
Expressing satisfaction over the overall progress of Mission YUVA, the Chief Secretary stressed that the programme must evolve into a large-scale transformational movement capable of empowering youth and fostering long-term economic resilience in the Union Territory.
A major focus of the meeting was the need to expedite pending applications. Dulloo directed district administrations, Small Business Development Units (SBDUs), and banking institutions to accelerate verification procedures, approvals by District Level Implementation Committees (DLICs), and loan sanction and disbursement processes.
He underlined that timely processing of applications is essential to maintain the enthusiasm and confidence of aspiring entrepreneurs who have shown strong interest in the scheme.
Reviewing the capacity-building component of the initiative, officials informed the committee that more than 21,000 applicants have already completed entrepreneurship training through hybrid learning models. To facilitate large-scale training and outreach, over 300 training centres have been activated across Jammu and Kashmir, while more than 200 certified trainers are currently engaged in entrepreneurship and business development programmes.
The administration is also strengthening collaboration with the Jammu & Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) to enhance training quality and provide practical managerial and business skills to aspiring entrepreneurs.
Secretary, Labour & Employment, Kumar Rajeev Ranjan informed the committee that Mission YUVA has generated overwhelming response from youth across both urban and rural regions of the Union Territory.
According to official figures presented during the meeting:
More than 1.07 lakh applications have been received
Over 57,000 applications have been approved by DLICs
More than 25,000 loans have been sanctioned by banks
Credit support exceeding ₹1,200 crore has been sanctioned
Around ₹1,119 crore has already been disbursed in more than 21,000 cases
The large-scale financial support extended under the programme is expected to significantly boost self-employment opportunities and grassroots entrepreneurship in Jammu and Kashmir.
Mission YUVA has also set an ambitious target for 2026-27, aiming to establish nearly 50,000 enterprises across the Union Territory. The targets include creation of 44,000 nano enterprises, establishment of 4,000 new MSMEs, and expansion support for around 2,000 existing MSMEs.
The meeting further discussed several policy reforms and operational interventions aimed at improving mentorship support systems, strengthening enterprise facilitation mechanisms, enhancing institutional outreach, and improving coordination between departments and financial institutions.
Officials believe these reforms will make the entrepreneurial ecosystem more accessible, responsive, and efficient for young entrepreneurs across all districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
With more than one lakh applications already received and thousands of enterprises under various stages of approval and financing, Mission YUVA is rapidly emerging as one of the most impactful employment and entrepreneurship initiatives undertaken in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years.
The programme is expected to play a crucial role in fostering innovation, reducing unemployment, strengthening local enterprise ecosystems, and building a more self-reliant and sustainable economy in the Union Territory.
