In the Union Budget 2026, Honourable Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced an important next step to keep the momentum of women entrepreneurship going in India.The Lakhpati Didi programme laid the foundation, and the government is now taking the next step to support women as enterprise owners. As part of this vision, the government proposed the launch of SHE Marts, where SHE stands for Self-help Entrepreneurs Marts. It is an initiative where community-owned retail outlets are set up and managed by women through their local SHGs and community federations.
So what exactly is SHE mart? How will it benefit women entrepreneurs as they scale their businesses? What new challenges might arise as they move into organised retail and larger operations, and what solutions can help address them?
In this blog, we walk you through all of this step by step. Stay tuned!
Key Highlights of SHE marts (Self-Help Entrepreneurs)
- Set up within cluster-level federations
- For SHGs with a steady income of at least Rs 1 lakh a year
- Gender Budget Allocation 9.4% of the total Budget
What are SHE marts?
SHE marts aims to help women move from loan-based livelihood activities to owning and running real businesses. Built as an extension of the Lakhpati Didi programme, SHE marts will function as community-owned retail outlets where women-led SHGs can collectively sell their products. These marts will be set up and managed through local cluster-level federations, enabling women entrepreneurs to scale their products, reach more buyers, and take their businesses to the next level.
Why is it an Extension of Lakhpati Didi Programme: What’s the Major Shift?
Budget allocations for women have gone up in FY 2026–27, with the Gender Budget rising to 9.37% from 8.86% last year, pointing to a stronger push for women’s economic participation.
Under the Lakhpati Didi initiative, a woman is classified as a Lakhpati Didi when her household earns at least ₹1 lakh annually, typically through income-generating activities supported by Self-Help Groups.
SHE mart builds on this foundation by taking women beyond income generation to enterprise ownership making it a natural extension of Lakhpati Didi 2.0.
The Shift looks like this:
| Credit-linked Livelihood | Enterprise Ownership |
| Loan-dependent income | Revenue-driven business |
| Small, home-based activity | Structured business setup |
| Limited local selling | Wider market access |
| No brand or store | Own retail outlet/platform |
| Focus on repayment | Focus on growth & profits |
Why SHE mart Matters for Women Entrepreneurs
SHE mart matters because it helps women move from small, loan-based work to running their own businesses. It gives women entrepreneurs direct access to customers, better control over their products, and the ability to grow together through shared retail spaces.
These marts will act as clusters to connect female producers with customers and supply chains. These instruments are expected to complement existing credit-linked products, helping women move from livelihood activities to full business ownership.
As these retail outlets expand, managing stock across multiple locations becomes critical, that’s what makes inventory management essential to ensure product availability, avoid stockouts, and keep operations running smoothly.
The Role of Structured Inventory and Warehouse Management in Supply Chain Operations
To keep the supply chain running smoothly, a deeper understanding of inventory management is essential. This includes real-time inventory visibility to track available stock, accurate SKU-level tracking to avoid mismatches, and demand-based replenishment planning to ensure products are restocked on time.
- Real-time inventory sync to keep stock levels updated across warehouses and retail outlets
- SKU-level stock tracking to avoid mismatches and manual errors
- Automated stock updates when products are sold, received, or transferred
- Visibility across locations to know where inventory is available at any moment
- Timely replenishment planning to prevent stockouts and overstocking
- Accurate inward and outward tracking to maintain smooth inventory flow
Wrapping Up
SHE marts reflect the Union Budget 2026’s focus on inclusive, women-led growth by encouraging enterprise creation beyond income support. As an extension of the Lakhpati Didi programme, the initiative supports women in moving from small, credit-linked activities to running organised businesses through community-owned retail outlets. With the right implementation, SHE marts can strengthen local markets, expand opportunities for women-led SHGs, and take India a step closer to meaningful women empowerment.
FAQs on SHE marts in Budget 2026
1. What is a SHE mart?
A SHE mart is a community-owned retail outlet proposed in the Union Budget 2026. It is set up and managed by women entrepreneurs through their Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and cluster-level federations to collectively sell women-made products.
2. Who can participate in SHE marts?
Women-led SHGs with a stable annual income of at least ₹1 lakh are eligible to participate. These SHGs typically fall under the Lakhpati Didi framework.
3. How are SHE marts linked to the Lakhpati Didi programme?
SHE marts are an extension of the Lakhpati Didi programme. While Lakhpati Didi focuses on income generation, SHE marts help women transition into enterprise ownership and organised retail.
4. What is the main objective of SHE marts?
The primary objective is to move women from loan-based livelihood activities to revenue-driven businesses by giving them direct access to markets, customers, and structured retail platforms.
5. How will SHE marts benefit women entrepreneurs?
SHE marts provide shared retail infrastructure, wider market access, better pricing power, collective branding, and opportunities to scale production beyond local markets.
6. Where will SHE marts be set up?
SHE marts will be established at the cluster level and operated through local federations of Self-Help Groups, ensuring community ownership and collective management.
7. What types of products will be sold in SHE marts?
Products are expected to include handicrafts, food products, textiles, home essentials, and other goods produced by women-led SHGs, depending on regional strengths.
8. What challenges might women face while operating SHE marts?
As women move into organised retail, they may face challenges such as inventory management, demand forecasting, multi-location stock visibility, and supply chain coordination.
9. Why is inventory and warehouse management important for SHE marts?
Efficient inventory and warehouse management help prevent stockouts, reduce wastage, track SKUs accurately, and ensure smooth operations across multiple retail outlets and storage locations.
10. How do SHE marts support women-led economic growth in India?
By promoting enterprise ownership, shared infrastructure, and market access, SHE marts strengthen women-led businesses, create sustainable income opportunities, and support inclusive economic growth aligned with Budget 2026 goals.