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Credit Cards

PM SVANidhi Credit Card: Who Gets It and How to Apply

A free, UPI-linked RuPay card for street vendors who have repaid their second PM SVANidhi loan. The limit starts at ₹10,000 and can rise to ₹30,000.

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Written by Aarav Sharma

Published 27 October 2026·6 min read

On this page8 sections
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The PM SVANidhi credit card is a lifetime-free RuPay credit card, linked to UPI, for street vendors who have fully repaid their second PM SVANidhi loan. The limit starts at ₹10,000 and can rise to ₹30,000 with good use. You apply on pmsvanidhi.mohua.gov.in through the Apply Credit Card option, and a participating bank issues the card.

The Prime Minister formally launched the card in Thiruvananthapuram on 23 January 2026. The portal had opened applications on 24 October 2025. For the loans themselves, see our PM SVANidhi scheme guide.

Key facts

Item Rule under the operational guidelines
Card type RuPay retail (personal) credit card, revolving, UPI-linked
Who can apply Vendors who repaid the 2nd tranche; 3rd tranche active or repaid also qualifies
Age 21 to 65 years when you apply
Credit limit ₹30,000; operating limit starts at ₹10,000
Validity 5 years from issue
Interest-free period 20 to 50 days, as per the issuer
Joining, annual, activation, inactivity fee Nil
Late fee None if the amount due is up to ₹500; issuer’s fee above that
EMI conversion On ₹2,500 or more, at up to 1.5% a month, no prepayment charge
Not allowed Cash withdrawal, international or forex transactions, add-on cards, blocked merchant types
Activation Within 60 days of issue

Who is eligible

The card is for vendors who have shown repayment discipline under PM SVANidhi. Under the Credit Card Operational Guidelines, you qualify if:

  • you have fully repaid your 2nd tranche loan and are eligible for the 3rd; or
  • you have already taken the 3rd tranche, whether it is still running or repaid;
  • you are between 21 and 65 years old; and
  • you have no NPA or written-off account with any lender. Accounts classified SMA-0 may still be considered.

The card is in addition to the ₹50,000 third loan. You can take the loan, the card, or both. Issuers must base the decision mainly on your SVANidhi repayment record. They cannot insist on income proof or an ITR, and cannot set a minimum credit score.

Documents

  • Aadhaar card
  • PAN card
  • Certificate of Vending, Letter of Recommendation, or ID card from your ULB or block office
  • Savings bank account details
  • Current address proof, if it differs from the Aadhaar address

If you do not have a PAN, get one first. Resource persons engaged by ULBs are meant to help vendors apply for a PAN as well as the card.

How to apply

  1. Open pmsvanidhi.mohua.gov.in and click Apply Credit Card, or use the PM SVANidhi mobile app.
  2. Log in with your mobile number or Aadhaar and verify with OTP or biometric.
  3. Fill in the standard application form.
  4. Complete e-KYC with Aadhaar OTP or biometric and a live photograph.
  5. Confirm the card issuer. By default it is your own bank, if that bank is onboarded as an issuer.
  6. Submit. The portal sends your application and KYC to the issuer, which may do extra KYC and then issues the card.

If your bank does not issue credit cards, its partner issuer is set as the default. If your SVANidhi loan came from an NBFC, MFI or cooperative bank, you can pick any onboarded issuer. The portal lists the issuers and their card features. Union Bank of India and Bank of Baroda’s BOBCARD are among those with product pages for the card.

Tracking your application

Issuers must update the application status and card details on the PM SVANidhi portal. Log in to your applicant account to see it, or ask your ULB, which acts as the link between you and the issuer. If your application is rejected or you withdraw it, you can apply again.

Charges and what they mean for you

You pay no joining, annual, activation or inactivity fee. Interest on unpaid bills, and fees for card replacement or a duplicate card, follow the issuer’s own policy, so read the Key Fact Statement and MITC you get at onboarding.

The ₹500 late-fee relief covers only the fee. MoHUA’s card FAQ says interest for late payment is still charged as per the issuer’s policy. Pay the full bill by the due date and you pay no interest at all.

Want to spread a bigger purchase? The issuer may let you convert ₹2,500 or more from a bill into EMIs, if you ask before the due date. The EMI rate is capped at 1.5% a month. Our credit card EMI calculator shows what that costs.

Using the card for business payments

Link the card to UPI and you can pay from your credit limit in UPI apps such as BHIM, Paytm or PhonePe. The FAQ’s steps are:

  1. Enable UPI linking for the card in your card issuer’s mobile app.
  2. Open a UPI app and tap Add Card.
  3. Select your card issuer and enter the RuPay credit card details.
  4. Verify with the OTP and set a UPI PIN.

The card can be used for business stock and daily personal needs. It is a retail card, not a merchant card, so you cannot accept payments on it. Buying stock from a wholesaler who takes UPI or card payments lets you pay now and settle within the interest-free period. Whether a particular UPI payment is allowed depends on your issuer’s terms. Our page on RuPay credit cards on UPI explains how they work.

Activate the card as soon as it arrives. Setting a PIN, changing a transaction setting, calling customer care or making a transaction counts as activation. If you have not activated it within 60 days, the issuer must take your OTP consent before activating it, and MoHUA’s FAQ warns that a fresh card may not be issued.

What happens if dues go unpaid

  • Interest and, above ₹500, a late fee are added to what you owe.
  • Late payment is reported in your credit history, which affects future loans.
  • Issuers report overdue and NPA status to the PM SVANidhi portal, which tracks defaults.
  • If the account turns NPA, the issuer can claim up to 75% of the outstanding amount, capped at ₹30,000 per card, from CGTMSE. That payment is to the bank. You still owe the debt.
  • After five years, renewal is the issuer’s own decision based on your record.

Set up auto-pay for the full amount from your savings account; issuers must offer ECS, NACH or UPI AutoPay. If a charge looks wrong, raise it with the issuer first. Our page on RBI rules for credit card holders covers your rights.

Frequently asked questions

What is the PM SVANidhi credit card limit?

₹30,000. It starts at ₹10,000 and is raised gradually if you use the card well and pay on time.

Is the PM SVANidhi credit card free?

Yes. It is lifetime free, with no joining, annual, activation or inactivity charges.

Can I get the card without taking the ₹50,000 loan?

Yes. Once you repay the second loan, you can take the card, the third loan, or both.

Does SBI issue the PM SVANidhi credit card?

We did not find an SBI Card page for this card. The portal shows the issuers onboarded; your own bank is the default if it is one of them.

Can I withdraw cash with the PM SVANidhi credit card?

No. Cash withdrawal at ATMs or POS machines is blocked, as are international transactions.

Do I need a CIBIL score for the card?

No. Issuers cannot set a minimum credit score; they look at your SVANidhi repayment record. An NPA or written-off loan elsewhere can lead to rejection.

How do I check my PM SVANidhi credit card status?

Log in to your applicant account on pmsvanidhi.mohua.gov.in. Issuers update the status there.

Sources

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