Self-help groups organise savings, borrowing, mutual support and links to banks or markets. AP's 2026-27 budget speech frames women's enterprise as a development priority and refers to a One Family-One Entrepreneur initiative. That is a broad policy goal, not a guarantee that every SHG member has received a business grant. A group's financial history, bank account, business plan and training can influence what support is available.

Enterprise support is useful only when it connects production with demand. A food-processing group needs quality control, packaging, licenses where applicable and a buyer. A tailoring group needs equipment maintenance and repeat orders. Credit can help working capital but also creates a repayment obligation. A subsidy can reduce cost but does not replace market access or bookkeeping.

In exam terms, distinguish a self-help group, a cooperative and an individual entrepreneur. The budget's target language should be labelled as a target. Official implementation reports can later show how many enterprises were started, remained active and generated income. This is more meaningful than counting only training sessions.

Worked example: A women's self-help group borrows for a small enterprise. The group may receive credit support, training, market access or an interest concession through different components. A loan is repayable, unlike a grant. Group membership does not itself establish eligibility for every linked programme. For an exam, identify the institution, instrument and intended outcome before matching the scheme name.

Active recall: Name three services an SHG may provide and two conditions for a durable microenterprise.