"The council will be a high-profile body which will include women who are established in their fields as well as those seeking to start their own enterprises. The forum will also facilitate mentoring, funding from banks, assistance in raising venture capital, apart from providing services such as registering patents and new companies," said a ministry spokesperson.



In 2016, Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi had launched an online marketplace for women entrepreneurs called mahila e-haat, when she conceived the idea of a council for aspiring businesswomen.

The ministry also supports women in the unorganised sector by providing micro credit for livelihood support through its Rashtriya Mahila Kosh programme.