Rise Together — Up to ₹20 Lakh for J&K Youth Groups
Rise Together is a Mission Youth, Jammu & Kashmir scheme that gives youth groups up to ₹20 lakh in subsidy and bank loan to set up community-oriented enterprises, backed by counselling, pre-sanction training and end-to-end handholding.
- Funding amount
- ₹2Cr (debt / loan)
- Funding type
- Debt / Loan
- Provider
- Mission Youth, Government of Jammu and Kashmir (Government)
- Application deadline
- Rolling
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Overview
Rise Together is a Jammu & Kashmir government programme delivered by Mission Youth. It channels bank credit along with a state subsidy into enterprises run by young people that are designed to serve their own community — creating local jobs and local income rather than catering to an outside market.
The scheme does not back a solo founder. It works with groups of at least three young people who are domiciled in J&K and registered with Mission Youth. Together they build an enterprise that fits the local economy, and the state stands behind them with money, guidance and strategic direction.
Support goes well beyond the cheque. Groups that clear the process get help across the whole arc of the business — production, marketing and the practical steps in between — plus counselling and pre-sanction training, so the unit is set up properly from day one.
Rise Together is debt-based and non-dilutive. The public contribution arrives as a subsidy and a bank loan, and no ownership stake or equity in the enterprise is taken. The rest of the project cost comes from the group itself.
Mission Youth frames the model as a convergence effort: the scheme, banks and other stakeholders act in coordination so that youth livelihood programmes pull in the same direction as the region's wider socio-economic development.
Highlights
- Up to ₹20 lakh per project, made up of a Mission Youth subsidy plus a bank loan
- Mission Youth subsidy of at least ₹2.5 lakh or 10% of the project cost
- Bank loan funds 70% of project cost, capped at ₹17.50 lakh
- Beneficiary group must bring in at least 20% of project cost as margin money
- Only J&K youth groups with 3+ members aged 18-35 are eligible
- Debt-based, non-dilutive support with counselling, pre-sanction training and end-to-end handholding
Who can apply
Rise Together is open to youth groups, not to individual applicants. A group must have at least three members, and every member has to meet the conditions below.
- Domicile: All members must be domiciles of Jammu & Kashmir and registered with Mission Youth, J&K.
- Age: Every member must be between 18 and 35 years.
- Education: A minimum of 12th standard is required. The CEO, Mission Youth, may relax this for deserving candidates.
- Employment status: Members must be unemployed, and this must be certified by a competent authority.
- Prior scheme benefits: No member should have already taken benefits under any self-employment or similar government scheme, and loans previously availed under government-sponsored schemes are also not eligible.
- Credit record: Applicants must not be defaulters to any bank or financial institution.
- Police verification: The character antecedents of all group members must be certified by the police.
Preference goes to youth who are already registered as Self-Help Groups, Registered Societies or Registered Trusts.
Rise Together — Up to ₹20 Lakh for J&K Youth Groups is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Deadline & timing
Rise Together — Up to ₹20 Lakh for J&K Youth Groups 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.
What the funding covers
Rise Together packages a state subsidy together with bank credit. Total financial assistance available per project is up to ₹20 lakh.
- Upfront subsidy from Mission Youth: at least ₹2.5 lakh, or 10% of what the project costs.
- Bank loan: funds 70% of the project cost, capped at ₹17.50 lakh.
- Special repayment subsidy: can add up to ₹5 lakh per case, softening the burden of repaying the loan.
- Beneficiary margin money: the group must self-finance or self-arrange at least 20% of the project's total cost.
Money is only part of what a selected group receives. The programme also provides:
- Handholding plus strategic support that runs end to end, from production right through to marketing.
- Pre-sanction training to help the group execute its project effectively.
- Counselling for the selected youth group.
- Mentorship, networking, incubation support and help with regulatory requirements.
The stated aim is more jobs, higher incomes and a stronger sense of service to the community among young entrepreneurs in the region.
About the provider
Rise Together — Up to ₹20 Lakh for J&K Youth Groups is offered by Mission Youth, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, a government body. As a government-backed debt / loan, it is publicly funded and open to eligible startups across India.
How to apply
Applications are submitted on the . Confirm the current deadline and document checklist there before you start.
Selection process
Rise Together runs on an annual cycle that begins with an open call and ends with training before the project is taken up.
- Online proposals: Mission Youth invites proposals from interested youth online during the 4th quarter of each year. Applicants log in to the portal using their Aadhaar and fill in the required information.
- Assessment: The proposals are assessed, with the exercise completed by the end of the financial year.
- Notification: Shortlisted proposals are notified in April.
- Counselling: Selected youth groups are given the necessary counselling.
- Detailed Project Report: After counselling, the group submits a DPR covering all significant contours of the proposed activity.
- Technical Committee evaluation: The DPR is evaluated by a Technical Committee constituted by the Chief Executive Officer, Mission Youth. Only DPRs that satisfy the committee move ahead.
- Pre-sanction training: Groups whose DPRs are approved receive pre-sanction training so they can execute their intended intervention effectively.
Documents you’ll need
Before you apply to Rise Together — Up to ₹20 Lakh for J&K Youth Groups, 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.
Who this is best for
Rise Together — Up to ₹20 Lakh for J&K Youth Groups is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹2Cr. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.
Frequently asked questions
How much funding does Rise Together offer a youth group?
Financial assistance goes up to ₹20 lakh per project. That is made up of an upfront subsidy from Mission Youth of at least ₹2.5 lakh or 10% of the project cost, a bank loan covering 70% of the project cost up to ₹17.50 lakh, and a special repayment subsidy that can aggregate up to ₹5 lakh per case.
Does Rise Together take equity in my enterprise?
No. The programme is structured as debt support — a subsidy plus a bank loan — so no equity or ownership stake in the enterprise is taken. The group does, however, have to bring in margin money of at least 20% of the project's total cost on its own.
Who is eligible to apply?
Only youth groups, not individuals. A group needs at least three members, all of them J&K domiciles registered with Mission Youth. Every member must be 18 to 35 years old and have passed at least 12th standard, though the CEO, Mission Youth can relax the education requirement for deserving candidates. All members must be unemployed with certification from a competent authority, must not have taken benefits under any self-employment or similar government scheme before, must not be defaulters to any bank or financial institution, and must have their character antecedents certified by the police.
Is there a fixed deadline for applications?
Proposals are invited online during the 4th quarter of each year, and the window is described as rolling or always open. The assessment exercise is completed by the end of the financial year, and shortlisted proposals are notified in April.
How much of the project cost must the group fund itself?
The beneficiary youth group has to self-finance or self-arrange margin money of at least 20% of the project's total cost.
What kinds of enterprises does the programme support?
It supports community-oriented businesses that generate local employment. Examples covered include mechanized dairy units, automated sheep farms, departmental stores, manufacturing units that use indigenous raw materials, wayside amenities along tourist circuits, sound and light recreational facilities, smart teaching-learning facilities, and supply and distribution networks for retail products. Any other activity that promotes self-reliance and inclusive social development is also welcome.
Do I need DPIIT recognition or MSME registration to apply?
The programme does not require DPIIT recognition or MSME registration. It does require that the youth group is registered with Mission Youth, J&K and that every member is a J&K domicile. Groups already registered as Self-Help Groups, Registered Societies or Registered Trusts are given preference.
What documents and details will I need?
You begin by logging in with your Aadhaar on the Mission Youth portal and filling in the required information. The eligibility rules also point to J&K domicile, registration with Mission Youth, an unemployment certificate from a competent authority, and a police character certificate for every group member. If your group is shortlisted, you will additionally need to prepare a Detailed Project Report covering your proposed activity.
How do I apply, and what happens after I am shortlisted?
Applications are made online. Log in with your Aadhaar at https://jkgss.jk.gov.in/gssjk/citizen/initApp/30 and fill in the required information; the scheme document is available at https://missionyouth.jk.gov.in/scheme_pdf/rise_together.pdf. Shortlisted groups are notified in April and given counselling. They then submit a Detailed Project Report, which is evaluated by a Technical Committee constituted by the CEO, Mission Youth. Groups with approved DPRs receive pre-sanction training before the project is taken up.
Can I apply if I have already used a government self-employment scheme?
No. Members who have previously availed benefits under any self-employment or similar government scheme are not eligible, and loans already taken under government-sponsored schemes are not eligible either. Applicants must also be non-defaulters with banks and financial institutions.
Who offers Rise Together — Up to ₹20 Lakh for J&K Youth Groups?
Rise Together — Up to ₹20 Lakh for J&K Youth Groups is offered by Mission Youth, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, a government body. It is provided as non-dilutive funding.
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