LokOS: Digital Backbone for SHGs under DAY-NRLM

Backgrounder: LokOS, digital backbone for SHGs under DAY-NRLM

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Asked by UPSCPrelims 20121 PYQ

UPSC has already asked about this. Read the story with these questions in mind.

Prelims 2012How does the National Rural Livelihood Mission seek to improve livelihood options of rural poor?Solve with answer

Battle Brief

LokOS (Lok = People, OS = Operating System) is the web and mobile platform of DAY-NRLM that digitises Self-Help Groups and their federations. It covers 94.16 lakh SHGs with 10.03 crore members across 762 districts and tracks about ₹2 lakh crore of SHG transactions a year. SHE-LEAPS, for women entrepreneurs, runs on it from 29 June 2026.

Fact File

Programme: Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM)
Coverage: 34 States/UTs; 762 districts; 7,241 blocks; 5.92 lakh villages
Institutions: 94.16 lakh SHGs; 5.62 lakh VOs; 34,314 CLFs; 10.03 crore members
Transactions: about ₹2 lakh crore a year in the SHG network
Funds tracked: CIF ₹64,607.66 crore; RF ₹9,718.41 crore; CEF ₹38.34 crore
Lakhpati Didi: 3.87 crore Potential Lakhpati Didis; 4.09 lakh CRPs

In the news

LokOS: what happened?

A women’s Self-Help Group used to keep its savings in a notebook. A bank could not see that record, so it hesitated to lend. LokOS puts every SHG’s savings, loans and repayments online, which builds a credit history the bank can trust.

LokOS digitises member records, savings, loans, repayments, livelihoods and convergence work of SHGs and their federations.
It creates Aadhaar- and bank-linked digital IDs for community organisations and members.
The web app serves administrators and e-bookkeepers; the mobile app records field activity.
SHE-LEAPS, launched on 29 June 2026, supports women’s farm and non-farm enterprises.

Back Story

How are SHGs federated under DAY-NRLM?

SHGs join into Village Organisations (VOs), which join into Cluster Level Federations (CLFs).
DAY-NRLM promotes self-employment and livelihoods for poor rural households.
LokOS also keeps 18.50 crore Digital Aajeevika Registers for livelihood planning.

Why examiners care

Why does LokOS matter?

Financial inclusion: Digital records of SHG money make bank linkage easier.
Women: Tracks the Lakhpati Didi push with 6,611 Master Trainers and 4.09 lakh CRPs.

Exam Radar

What can Prelims ask on LokOS?

LokOS: DAY-NRLM platform; Lok = People, OS = Operating System.
94.16 lakh SHGs, 10.03 crore members, 762 districts.
SHG hierarchy: SHG to Village Organisation to Cluster Level Federation.
SHE-LEAPS launched 29 June 2026 on LokOS.

How to use this in Mains

GS-II Government policies and interventions for development

As per PIB (2026-07-04): lokOS is a web/mobile platform under DAY-NRLM for SHG records, transparency and financial inclusion.
SHG credit histories enable bank linkage.

Quotable data point
LokOS is a web/mobile platform under DAY-NRLM for SHG records, transparency and financial inclusion.
PIB: PIB Backgrounder: LokOS, 4 Jul 2026

Practice MCQs

Original practice questions (not PYQs).

Practice · UPSC

LokOS, a digital platform for Self-Help Groups, works under which programme?

Answer (b) & explanation

PIB Backgrounder, 4 Jul 2026.

Quick questions

Questions students ask about this

What is LokOS?

A web and mobile platform under DAY-NRLM for end-to-end digitisation of Self-Help Groups and their federations.

How many SHGs are on LokOS?

94.16 lakh SHGs with 10.03 crore members, as per the July 2026 backgrounder.

What is SHE-LEAPS?

The Self-Help Entrepreneur-Livelihoods and Enterprise Application for Prosperity and Sustainability, launched on 29 June 2026 on LokOS to support women's enterprises.