New Delhi, NFAPost: The Stand-Up India scheme has been a transformative initiative, empowering SC, ST, and women entrepreneurs to turn their business ideas into reality.
New Delhi, NFAPost: The Stand-Up India scheme since its inception on 5th April 2016 has been a transformative government initiative to empower SC, ST and women entrepreneurs to turn their business ideas into reality.
Over the past 9 years, the scheme has not just funded businesses—it has nurtured dreams, created livelihoods, and driven inclusive growth across India. Stand-Up India Scheme is aimed to break barriers by providing bank loans to help them start new businesses.
Achievements Under Stand-Up India
The Stand-Up India Scheme has shown remarkable growth over the years, with the total amount sanctioned rising from Rs 16,085.07 crore as of 31st March 2019 to an impressive Rs 61,020.41 crore by 17th March 2025, since its launch. This reflects a substantial increase, highlighting the scheme’s expanding impact in empowering entrepreneurs across the country.
The scheme reflected significant financial empowerment for the SC, ST communities and women entrepreneurs (from March 2018 to March 2024):
- SC accounts grew from 9,399 to 46,248 with loan amounts rising from Rs. 1,826.21 crore to Rs. 9,747.11 crore.
- ST accounts increased from 2,841 to 15,228 with sanctioned loans jumping from Rs. 574.65 crore to Rs. 3,244.07 crore.
“From 2018 to 2024, women entrepreneurs saw growth from 55,644 to 1,90,844 accounts, with sanctioned amounts rising from Rs. 12,452.37 crore to Rs. 43,984.10 crore,” said the Ministry of Finance.
The Stand-Up India Scheme has been a transformative initiative, empowering SC, ST, and women entrepreneurs to turn their business ideas into reality.
“With significant achievements in loan sanctions and disbursements, it continues to foster inclusive growth. This scheme is not just about loans; it’s about creating opportunities, inspiring change, and turning aspirations into achievements,” the ministry noted.
It aimed to break barriers by providing bank loans to help them start new businesses. Over the past 7 years, the scheme has not just funded businesses, it has nurtured dreams, created livelihoods, and driven inclusive growth across India, according to the Ministry of Finance.
The Stand-Up India scheme facilitates bank loans between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 crore to at least one Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) borrower and at least one woman borrower per bank branch for setting up a greenfield enterprise.
This enterprise may be in manufacturing, services, agri-allied activities or the trading sector. In case of non-individual enterprises at least 51% of the shareholding and controlling stake should be held by either an SC/ST or woman entrepreneur.
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