Loans have been sanctioned to 49,031 SC and 15,962 ST entrepreneurs (including women) and 1,94,804 women entrepreneurs under the Stand-Up India scheme
The scheme, aimed at promoting economic empowerment among marginalised communities, provides loans ranging from INR 10 Lakh to INR 1 Cr for setting up greenfield enterprises
In her Budget speech for 2026, FM Sitharmana announced a new scheme for 5 Lakh SC/ST first-time women entrepreneurs to provide them term loans of up to INR 2 Cr
In a bid to foster inclusive entrepreneurship, loans have been provided to nearly 2 Lakh women entrepreneurs under the Stand-Up India Scheme since its launch in April 2016, the government informed the Parliament.
The scheme, aimed at promoting economic empowerment among marginalised communities, provides loans ranging from INR 10 Lakh to INR 1 Cr for setting up greenfield enterprises in manufacturing, services, trading, and also allied agricultural activities.
Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha, Pankaj Chaudhary, the minister of state in the finance ministry, said that loans have been sanctioned to 49,031 SC and 15,962 ST entrepreneurs (including women) and 1,94,804 women entrepreneurs under the Stand-Up India scheme as on January 27, 2025.
The scheme mandates each branch of scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) to support at least one SC/ST borrower and one woman borrower.
To enhance accessibility, the government has also integrated digital platforms like the Stand-Up Mitra and Jan Samarth portals.
These platforms not only streamline loan applications but also provide critical guidance and training, ensuring that entrepreneurs from remote and rural areas can leverage the scheme’s benefits effectively.
The Centre has been on an overdrive over the last few years to promote startups and entrepreneurship through various measures like the launch of the Startup India scheme and the fund of funds (FoF) for startups.
Most recently, in the budget for the financial year ending March 2026 (FY26), finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that a new FoF for startups will be set up with a corpus of an additional INR 10,000 Cr.
The FM also announced a new scheme for 5 Lakh scheduled caste/ tribe first-time women entrepreneurs, providing them term loans of up to INR 2 Cr.
The first FoF for startups was launched in 2016 to provide a boost to the Indian startup ecosystem and increasing capital inflows into the space. In her speech, the FM said that the FoF resulted in capital commitment of over INR 91,000 Cr.
After the funding winter and layoffs in 2022 and 2023, the Indian startup ecosystem managed to stage a smart recovery last year. The Indian tech startup ecosystem raised over $12 Bn across 993 deals in 2024, marking a 20% increase compared to 2023.
