USTTAD Scheme PIA list 2026 is now checked through the PM VIKAS portal of Ministry of Minority Affairs. USTTAD stands for Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development. Ministry of Minority Affairs launched it in 2015 to protect the heritage of traditional arts and crafts of minority communities and to train master craftsmen and artisans. In 2024, USTTAD was merged with four other minority schemes under Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS), and the old USTTAD website has been closed.
Before the merger, 23,130 people were trained under USTTAD through empanelled Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs). Master craftsmen passed traditional skills to young trainees, and Hunar Haat events gave artisans a platform to sell their products. As of September 2026, craft training under this component continues under PM VIKAS, and details of PIAs and active batches are shared on the new portal.
USTTAD Scheme PIA List 2026
PIAs are organisations empanelled by Ministry of Minority Affairs to run training projects. Earlier, the list was available under the "Empaneled PIA's" section of the old USTTAD portal, but that website no longer opens. Here is how the list and batch details can be checked now.
STEP 1 - Visit the PM VIKAS portal at pmvikas.minorityaffairs.gov.in. This is the official website of Ministry of Minority Affairs for skilling and craft training schemes, including the old USTTAD component.
STEP 2 - Open the training and PIA related sections on the portal. Active training batches are announced through empanelled PIAs, and the portal shares details of ongoing projects. Ministry's main website at minorityaffairs.gov.in also carries the list of PIAs running its schemes.
STEP 3 - If the required detail is not visible online, contact the nearest PIA training centre or the District Minority Welfare Office. Officials there share the current batch details and names of empanelled agencies working in the district.
STEP 4 - Organisations that want to work as a PIA can submit proposals online when the Ministry invites applications. Every PIA must register on NITI Aayog's NGO Darpan portal, and proposals are accepted only through the scheme portal. Organisations eligible for empanelment include societies registered for at least three years with experience of running traditional skill courses and market linkages, recognised professional institutions, industry associations and government institutions such as universities, public sector undertakings and training institutes.
Screenshots given below are from the old USTTAD portal and are kept here for reference.
Key Details of USTTAD Scheme
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | USTTAD (Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development) |
| Launched By | Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India |
| Launch Year | 2015 |
| Current Status | Merged under PM VIKAS in 2024 |
| People Trained | 23,130 (as reported in August 2022) |
| Official Website | pmvikas.minorityaffairs.gov.in |
USTTAD Scheme Now Part of PM VIKAS
PM VIKAS was launched in 2024 by merging five old schemes of Ministry of Minority Affairs, namely Seekho Aur Kamao, USTTAD, Hamari Dharohar, Nai Roshni and Nai Manzil. Scheme guidelines were approved in January 2025 and rollout started after that. PM VIKAS covers skilling and training in traditional and non-traditional trades, women leadership and entrepreneurship, education through National Institute of Open Schooling, and infrastructure development through Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram.
So far, a target to train about 1.51 lakh people has been allocated to PIAs across states and UTs. For 2025-26, the budget estimate for PM VIKAS was Rs 267.29 crore. Institutions like NIFTEM Kundli, IIT Patna, IIT Palakkad and IIIT Kottayam have signed MoUs with the Ministry to run training projects as PIAs.
Overview of USTTAD Scheme
| Scheme Name | USTTAD Scheme |
| Full Form | Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development |
| Launched By | Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India |
| Launch Year | 2015 |
| Main Aim | Training of master craftsmen and artisans and helping them train young people in traditional arts and crafts of minority communities |
| Current Status | Part of PM VIKAS since 2024 |
| Official Website | pmvikas.minorityaffairs.gov.in |
USTTAD Scheme Benefits and Features
USTTAD worked on both sides of the craft economy. It upgraded the skills of master craftsmen and helped young trainees learn from them. Main benefits are given below.
- Training of master craftsmen and artisans so their traditional skills match new designs and market needs.
- Young people from minority communities learn traditional arts and crafts directly from master craftsmen.
- Certificate and diploma courses in traditional arts and crafts, recognised by Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, DC Handicrafts or sectoral export promotion councils.
- Market linkage support through Hunar Haat and Shilp Utsav events where artisans sell products directly to buyers.
- Documentation of identified crafts and setting of standards to define a master craftsperson for each craft.
- Design and development workshops with NIFT and NID, with over 100 workshops held in 25 craft clusters so far.
- Apprenticeship stipend for research in traditional arts and crafts, new designs and product development.
- USTTAD Samman award for outstanding master craftspersons and culinary experts.
Components of USTTAD Scheme
USTTAD had five main components. Each one covered a different part of craft training and marketing support, as given below.
| Component | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Skill training through institutions | Certificate and diploma courses in traditional arts and crafts run by empanelled institutions |
| Apprenticeship stipend for research | Fellowship for postgraduate minority candidates doing research in traditional arts, crafts and new designs |
| Support to craft museums | Financial help of up to Rs 20 lakh per project for curating traditional arts and crafts |
| Hunar Haat and Shilp Utsav | Exhibitions and markets where minority artisans sell handicrafts and serve traditional cuisine |
| USTTAD Samman | Award for 10 outstanding master craftspersons every year |
Eligibility Criteria for Trainees
Trainee selection under USTTAD followed clear rules. Main conditions are listed below.
- Trainee must belong to a notified minority community.
- 25% seats were considered for candidates from BPL families of non-minority communities.
- 3% seats were reserved for differently abled citizens from minority communities.
- Age of the trainee had to be between 14 and 45 years, with upper age relaxation for differently abled candidates.
- Minimum educational qualification was class 5, with relaxation for differently abled persons.
- 33% of the seats were marked for minority girls.
- If more than one member of a family met the conditions, the benefit could extend to them as well.
Under PM VIKAS, 33% of seats are reserved for girls and 3% for persons with disability across all components. Up to 15% seats can go to non-minority candidates from EWS families in some training projects. Exact conditions for each batch are shared by the PIA at the time of enrolment.
How to Apply for Craft Training Under PM VIKAS
Candidates do not fill one central form for craft training. Enrolment happens through the agencies running the batches, and the process is simple.
STEP 1 - Find an empanelled PIA near the area. The PM VIKAS portal, District Minority Welfare Office or the state minority welfare department can help locate active training centres.
STEP 2 - Check the active batch details on pmvikas.minorityaffairs.gov.in or ask at the PIA centre about ongoing training for the chosen craft.
STEP 3 - Complete the enrolment formalities at the PIA centre with the documents asked by the agency during admission, such as age and community proof. Registration can also happen through accredited Skill India Digital Hub centres or state-notified community institutions.
STEP 4 - Selected trainees attend classes for 2 months to 1 year as per the course module. Training covers the craft along with soft skills, IT and spoken English, and the PIA helps trainees open bank accounts and receive stipend payments. After training, PIAs help candidates with placement counselling and self employment support, and a candidate is counted as placed after three continuous months in a job.
PM VIKAS State Wise Training Allocation 2026
Ministry of Minority Affairs has allocated training targets to PIAs state wise under PM VIKAS. The table below shows the break-up shared in Parliament in February 2026. Craft training of the USTTAD type is one part of this overall target.
| State/UT | Training Allocation |
|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | 3,150 |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 1,860 |
| Assam | 12,020 |
| Bihar | 4,725 |
| Chhattisgarh | 260 |
| Delhi | 9,140 |
| Goa | 270 |
| Haryana | 3,250 |
| Jammu & Kashmir | 14,960 |
| Jharkhand | 8,120 |
| Karnataka | 4,885 |
| Kerala | 1,840 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 10,245 |
| Maharashtra | 8,995 |
| Meghalaya | 7,045 |
| Mizoram | 210 |
| Nagaland | 1,550 |
| Odisha | 1,400 |
| Punjab | 16,800 |
| Rajasthan | 3,330 |
| Sikkim | 210 |
| Tamil Nadu | 2,000 |
| Telangana | 3,300 |
| Tripura | 1,350 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 18,080 |
| Uttarakhand | 5,780 |
| West Bengal | 6,610 |
| Grand Total | 1,51,385 |
Hunar Haat and Lok Samvardhan Parv Support
Market linkage was a big part of USTTAD. Ministry of Minority Affairs has organised 41 Hunar Haat events and 4 Lok Samvardhan Parv events so far, where artisans, craftspersons and culinary experts from minority communities show and sell handicrafts and traditional food. Workshops with support from Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts train artisans in marketing, exports and digital selling. Lok Samvardhan Parv 2026 is scheduled in Bengaluru from September 26, 2026. Details of these events are shared on the Ministry of Minority Affairs website and in the PIB release on craft promotion under PM VIKAS.
USTTAD Samman for Master Craftspersons
USTTAD Samman started in 2017 to honour craftspersons with outstanding work in their craft. Ten craftspersons get the award every year. Each awardee receives a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, a copper plaque and an angavastram. Applicant must be a permanent resident of India, belong to a minority community, be above 30 years of age and have 10 years of experience in the craft. A central level selection committee judges entries on craftsmanship, samples and special consideration for languishing crafts and new prototypes.
Funding and Training Norms
USTTAD was a 100% central sector scheme run by Ministry of Minority Affairs through PIAs. Courses ran for 2 months to 1 year with at least 5 hours of training daily and 24 to 26 training days a month. Each craft batch had one master craftsman for up to 100 trainees, with preference to national and state award winning artisans. Trainees got a stipend of Rs 3,000 per month and boarding and lodging support of up to Rs 7,500 per month under the old norms. Master craftsmen received Rs 3,000 per trainee per month, capped at Rs 0.50 lakh per month, and PIAs got 2% of the project cost as incentive. Funds were released in three instalments of 30%, 50% and 20% after checking use certificates and progress reports. Under PM VIKAS, funding follows the new guidelines approved in January 2025.
Important Links for USTTAD and PM VIKAS
| Link | Purpose |
|---|---|
| pmvikas.minorityaffairs.gov.in | Official PM VIKAS portal for training batches and PIA details |
| minorityaffairs.gov.in | Ministry of Minority Affairs website with scheme details and PIA list |
| PM VIKAS guidelines page | Guidelines and forms for PIAs and users |
| PIB release on PM VIKAS rollout | State wise allocation and budget details shared in February 2026 |
Read: PMKVY Training Partners List to check skill training partners of another central scheme, or the Skill Development Courses List for free online certificate courses. Minority students can also check the NSP Scholarship List for scholarship updates.