Self Employment Scheme Gujarat — Loans up to ₹5L at 4% for ST Founders — Frequently Asked Questions

Loans range from ₹50,000 to ₹5,00,000. The exact figure depends on the type and scale of the business you propose — a modest venture will sit closer to the lower end, while a more substantial project can go up to ₹5 lakh.

It is a loan. The scheme provides debt funding at a concessional rate of 4% per annum, which you repay over the loan term. Because the rate is well below typical commercial lending, repayments stay light for a first-time entrepreneur.

No. This is a debt scheme, so there is no equity or ownership stake involved. You borrow the money, repay it with interest, and the business remains entirely yours.

You must satisfy three conditions: you have to be a resident of Gujarat, you must belong to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category, and you must be unemployed when you apply. All three are verified at the screening stage, so an application that misses any one of them will not be taken forward.

The Tribal Development Department has identified 85 business activities that qualify for support. Your proposal needs to fall within that recognised list, since the viability of your chosen activity within those sectors is a key part of how the application is evaluated.

No. Applications are rolling and always open, so you can register and submit your form at any point during the year rather than waiting for a specific window.

The eligibility criteria listed for this scheme are Gujarat residency, Scheduled Tribe category membership and being unemployed at the time of applying. DPIIT recognition and MSME registration are not among the requirements mentioned for the scheme.

The entire process is online. Go to the official Gujarat portal (the application link is https://mariyojana.gujarat.gov.in/MoreDetails.aspx) and use the "APPLY FOR LOAN" option. Register by entering your personal details, click "Sign Up" to generate your User ID and password, then log in with those credentials and the captcha code. From the list of schemes shown for your caste, select the Self Employment Scheme, complete the detailed form, upload the required documents, click "Save Application" to receive an application number, and use "Print Application" to keep a copy for your records.

Registration asks for your name exactly as it appears on Aadhaar, gender, date of birth, Aadhaar number and mobile number, plus a username and password with confirmation. After signing up, you fill in the detailed application form and upload the supporting documents requested on the portal. Keep your Aadhaar details handy, since the name entered there must match your Aadhaar record.

The Gujarat Tribal Development Corporation handles the review. Your form is first screened for the basic eligibility conditions — Gujarat residency, ST status and unemployment. It is then assessed on the proposed business activity and its viability within the 85 recognised sectors. A selection committee that includes experts from the Tribal Development Department and its affiliated bodies evaluates the applications, and shortlisted candidates may be called for further verification or an interview to judge their entrepreneurial potential and how feasible the venture really is.

Self Employment Scheme Gujarat — Loans up to ₹5L at 4% for ST Founders is offered by Tribal Development Department, Government of Gujarat, a government body. It is provided as non-dilutive funding.