Gatidhara Scheme — Up to ₹1 Lakh Vehicle Subsidy in West Bengal

Gatidhara is a West Bengal government subsidy scheme that helps unemployed youth buy a commercial vehicle and earn a living in the transport sector. West Bengal's Transport Department runs it, it has been in operation since August 2014, and it covers both urban and rural parts of the state.

The idea is straightforward: rather than funding a vehicle in full, a selected beneficiary gets a reduction of 30% on the ex-showroom value, capped at ₹1,00,000. The support arrives as a subsidy, so it is never repaid.

Funding for the programme is provided by the Labour Department, while the Transport Department looks after implementation — scrutinising applications, interviewing candidates and releasing the subsidy to those who qualify.

Households earning up to ₹25,000 a month are the target group, and there is no closing date: applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.

• Subsidy of up to ₹1,00,000, calculated as 30% of a commercial vehicle's ex-showroom price
• Non-repayable support — it is a subsidy, not a loan
• Open to registered unemployed youth in both urban and rural West Bengal
• Family monthly income must be ₹25,000 or below
• Age band of 25 to 45 years, with 5-year SC/ST and 3-year OBC relaxations
• Rolling applications — no fixed deadline to meet

The scheme is framed around an individual beneficiary — a registered unemployed youth — rather than a business entity.

Key conditions:

• Domicile — you must be a permanent resident of West Bengal.
• Employment Bank enrolment — you have to be registered as a job seeker with the Employment Bank of the Labour Department, Government of West Bengal.
• Age — you must be between 25 and 45 years, with the upper limit relaxed by 5 years for SC/ST applicants and by 3 years for OBC applicants.
• Family income — the household's monthly income must be below ₹25,000.
• One per family — only a single member of a family can take the subsidy.

Both urban and rural residents of the state are covered, and the scheme is open to anyone who meets the conditions above and intends to buy a commercial vehicle.

Gatidhara Scheme — Up to ₹1 Lakh Vehicle Subsidy in West Bengal is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

Gatidhara Scheme — Up to ₹1 Lakh Vehicle Subsidy in West Bengal accepts applications on a rolling basis — there is no fixed cut-off date, so eligible startups can apply at any time. Because rolling programmes can pause without notice, confirm the window is still open on the official site before you start.

The support takes the form of a subsidy equal to 30% of the ex-showroom price of the commercial vehicle purchased, subject to a ceiling of ₹1,00,000. Since it is a subsidy rather than a loan, the amount does not have to be returned.

What the beneficiary gets:

• A direct reduction in the upfront cost of the vehicle.
• Help in arranging the balance amount: applicants select their own financier, either a bank or an NBFC, for the loan portion.
• Access to authorised vehicle dealers who process the Gatidhara application along with the required documents.

Once the offer letter for the permit and the subsidy is issued, the vehicle must be registered within one month.

Gatidhara Scheme — Up to ₹1 Lakh Vehicle Subsidy in West Bengal is offered by Transport Department, Government of West Bengal, a government body. As a government-backed subsidy, it is publicly funded and open to eligible startups across India.

Applications and the eligibility details submitted with them are reviewed by the Transport Department, Government of West Bengal.

Candidates who clear that screening are identified following an interview conducted by the department.

A final list of qualified applicants is then prepared, and the subsidy is disbursed to those named on it.

Before you apply to Gatidhara Scheme — Up to ₹1 Lakh Vehicle Subsidy in West Bengal, keep the following documents ready:

• A pitch deck or short business plan describing the problem, product and traction
• Company registration documents and PAN
• Founder identification (PAN / Aadhaar) and brief profiles
• Recent financial statements or projections
• Product details — a demo, prototype or working link if available

Exact requirements are confirmed on the official application portal — treat this as a preparation checklist.

Gatidhara Scheme — Up to ₹1 Lakh Vehicle Subsidy in West Bengal is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹1L. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.