Budget 2026: What are SHE Marts; game-changer for women entrepreneurs in India

In the Union Budget 2026–27, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled a fresh economic strategy aimed squarely at empowering women entrepreneurs, especially in rural India. Central to this blueprint is the introduction of Self-Help Entrepreneur (SHE) Marts – a new retail platform designed to elevate women from small-scale livelihood activities to enterprise ownership. 

The SHE Marts initiative builds on the success of the government’s flagship Lakhpati Didi programme, which has helped millions of women in self-help groups (SHGs) lift their household incomes by crossing the ₹1 lakh annual threshold. According to the Finance Ministry, SHE Marts represent the “next step” in this transformation – helping women move beyond credit-linked livelihoods to become owners and operators of community retail ventures.

Under the new scheme, SHE Marts will be established as community-owned retail outlets within cluster-level federations of self-help groups, allowing women entrepreneurs to showcase local products and directly participate in market activity. These markets are expected to provide improved market access, branding opportunities, sustainable income, and a stronger foothold in formal retail ecosystems.

Finance Minister Sitharaman explained that the emphasis of SHE Marts is to shift women’s roles in the economy, from producers and contributors to active enterprise owners and decision-makers. The government will support these outlets through innovative financing instruments, though the full details of fund allocations and operational guidelines are yet to be published.

The initiative reflects a broader policy goal to improve gender inclusion in entrepreneurship and economic growth. In her Budget speech, Sitharaman stressed that supporting women’s economic participation is not only socially empowering but also strategically important for national development. The SHE Marts initiative aims to boost women’s visibility in commercial spaces and enhance their ability to compete in markets beyond traditional informal sectors.

Analysts say that SHE Marts could become significant anchors for local supply chains, particularly in rural areas where women’s SHGs have been instrumental in producing handicrafts, food products, and agricultural goods. By linking these producers directly with consumers and formal retail networks, the policy could help reduce dependence on intermediaries and increase profit margins for women-led ventures.

However, experts also caution that success will depend on the implementation details, including infrastructure support, training, and sustained financing. Ensuring that SHE Marts are not merely symbolic but financially viable will require coordination between central and state agencies, along with private sector partnerships.

Beyond SHE Marts, the Budget also proposed initiatives such as girls’ hostels in every district and expanded support for higher education, indicating a holistic approach to enhancing women’s opportunities across economic and social dimensions.

As India navigates its next phase of growth, the SHE Marts initiative stands out as a flagship measure to foster grassroots entrepreneurship, empower women economically, and strengthen community-led businesses across the country.