Dr. B. R. Ambedkar e-Auto Subsidy — ₹3 Lakh for SC/ST Women in Puducherry — Frequently Asked Questions

A selected beneficiary receives up to 75% of the electric auto's cost or ₹3,00,000, whichever is lower. The figure is calculated on the vehicle's price only, so accessories are not included. Before the state amount is settled, you are expected to claim the Central Government incentive under the Pradhan Mantri E-DRIVE (FAME-3) programme, which can pay up to ₹50,000.

No. The scheme is rolling and stays open, so there is no deadline you need to race against — applications are accepted through the year. That said, the number of beneficiaries taken in a year can be limited, and eligible applicants are generally considered on a first come, first served basis, so filing early is sensible.

The scheme is only for women from a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe community recognised by Puducherry. You must be a resident of the Union Territory, either by birth or through continuous residence of at least five years, and you must be between 18 and 45 years old on the date you apply. Your combined annual income with your spouse cannot exceed ₹2,00,000, you need a valid driving licence for an electric auto, and you cannot be receiving assistance for a prolonged disease.

No. Only one person per family can take this benefit, and it can be availed just once in a lifetime. You are also barred from applying if you have already received a comparable subsidy for the same purpose under any other State or Central scheme.

No. This is a welfare subsidy for individuals, not a startup or business programme, and the eligibility criteria make no mention of DPIIT recognition or MSME/Udyam registration. Your eligibility rests on community, gender, residence, age, family income, a driving licence and the absence of a similar subsidy already taken.

No. It is a government subsidy, so nothing is taken in exchange — no equity and no share in anything you build. The money does not have to be repaid as long as you follow the scheme's conditions. The exception is a breach: supplying false information or violating the post-selection obligations can lead to the subsidy being recovered with interest.

You fill in the prescribed application form and attach self-attested copies of the supporting papers. The listed documents are proof of residence, a caste certificate, an income certificate and a valid driving licence, along with any other relevant documents. Keep the originals handy — if the vehicle has already been bought, the original invoice has to be produced so the subsidy can be credited to your account.

Download and print the prescribed form from the official website or collect it from the designated offices, fill in every mandatory field and attach self-attested copies of your documents. Submission is offline and the office depends on where you live: applicants in the Puducherry region file with the Director of Adi Dravidar Welfare and Scheduled Tribes Welfare, those in Karaikal and Yanam file with the Assistant Director, and those in Mahe file with the Regional Administrator.

It depends on whether you have already bought the auto. If you have, submit the original invoice and the amount is credited to your bank account. If you have not, you pay 25% of the total cost to the dealer and the subsidy portion is credited directly to that authorised dealer's account.

You must drive the electric auto yourself — male drivers are not permitted. All documents connected to the vehicle and the subsidy have to be retained for five years from disbursement, and you cannot sell, lease or hand over ownership of the auto during those five years. The Transport Department holds an ownership-transfer block in VAHAN for the same period. Any false information or violation of these terms can mean repaying the full subsidy with interest.

A Welfare Inspector first screens every application for eligibility, and qualifying ones go to the Selection Committee. Eligible applicants are ranked mainly by seniority in age on a first come, first served basis. If more than 50 applications are received in a year, selection may instead be made by drawing lots, conducted openly in the presence of at least three applicants. The final beneficiary list is then uploaded to the Urban Development Housing portal to prevent anyone from claiming a similar benefit twice.

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar e-Auto Subsidy — ₹3 Lakh for SC/ST Women in Puducherry is offered by Adi Dravidar Welfare and Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department, Government of Puducherry, a government body. It is provided as non-dilutive funding.

Apply directly through the official application link on this page. Review the eligibility criteria and prepare your startup documents before you begin.