Bankable Scheme — ₹2L Loan + 50% Subsidy for Gujarat SC Founders — Frequently Asked Questions

There are two components. The loan portion goes up to ₹2,00,000, and on top of that a subsidy is given worth 50% of the loan amount or ₹50,000, whichever figure is lower. The subsidy is non-repayable, so it reduces what the entrepreneur ultimately has to repay.

Applicants must belong to a Scheduled Caste and be permanent residents of Gujarat. They need to be unemployed, aged between 18 and 60 years, capable of carrying out the proposed business activity, and free of any default with a financial institution. Annual income must also stay within the prescribed ceiling — ₹1,50,000 for urban residents and ₹1,20,000 for rural residents.

No. The support is structured as a loan plus a subsidy, which means it is non-dilutive. You do not hand over any share or ownership in your venture in return for the funding.

The scheme runs on a rolling basis, so there is no fixed closing date. Eligible applicants can submit their application whenever they are ready with their business details and documents.

The scheme covers a wide range of small-scale self-employment ventures. Examples include tailoring, groceries, animal husbandry, beauty parlours, carpentry, RCC centering, footwear, bamboo work and embroidery, along with other small-scale trades. Both new ventures and expansion of an existing activity fall within its scope.

It depends on where you live. Annual income must not exceed ₹1,50,000 if you are an urban resident, or ₹1,20,000 if you are a rural resident. Income is verified during the screening stage of the application.

The eligibility conditions set out by GSCDC focus on caste, Gujarat residency, age, unemployment, business capability, income limits and a clean credit record — DPIIT recognition and MSME registration do not feature among the stated requirements.

Applications are made online through the GSCDC portal. Register as a new user with your email ID, mobile number and a password, then log in with your generated credentials and the captcha code. A list of schemes applicable to your caste will be shown — select the Bankable Scheme, complete the application form, upload the required supporting documents and click Save Application. The system then issues an application number, and you can print a copy for your records.

Documents are uploaded along with the online application form. Since screening covers caste verification, Gujarat residency, age, employment status and income levels, it is sensible to keep proof for each of those ready before you start filling in the form.

Your application is first screened against the eligibility criteria, including caste, residency, age, employment status and income. Applications that qualify then have their documents reviewed to assess whether the applicant can realistically carry out the proposed business and whether they have any outstanding defaults. Final selection is based on a full evaluation of the application and documents against the scheme's guidelines.

Bankable Scheme — ₹2L Loan + 50% Subsidy for Gujarat SC Founders is offered by Gujarat Scheduled Caste Development Corporation (GSCDC), a government body. It is provided as non-dilutive funding.