Stand-Up India — Loans for Women & SC/ST Entrepreneurs

Stand-Up India is a flagship scheme of the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, designed to promote entrepreneurship among women and Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe communities. It provides composite bank loans ranging from ₹10 lakh to ₹1 crore for setting up greenfield enterprises in manufacturing, services, or trading sectors. The scheme mandates that each bank branch must facilitate at least one woman borrower and one SC/ST borrower, thereby ensuring inclusive access to formal credit. Loans cover up to 75% of the project cost, with the remaining 25% contributed by the promoter. Repayment is structured over a maximum of 7 years, including an 18-month moratorium to help new businesses establish themselves before starting EMIs. No equity is taken; the loan is fully debt-based.

• Women and SC/ST entrepreneurs above 18 can apply for loans from ₹10 lakh to ₹1 crore for greenfield projects in manufacturing, services, or trading.
• Loan covers 75% of project cost; promoter contributes 25% as margin.
• Repayment period: up to 7 years with an 18-month moratorium.
• No equity dilution — 100% debt financing.
• Mandate: each bank branch must fund at least one woman and one SC/ST borrower.
• CGTMSE guarantee cover may reduce collateral burden.

Only women entrepreneurs and SC/ST entrepreneurs are eligible. The applicant must be above 18 years of age. The enterprise must be a greenfield project, meaning the borrower is starting that particular business activity for the first time. The scheme is open to individuals or groups planning ventures in manufacturing, services, or trading. There is no specific requirement for DPIIT or MSME registration, but the bank will verify the greenfield nature of the project.

Stand-Up India — Loans for Women & SC/ST Entrepreneurs is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

Stand-Up India — Loans for Women & SC/ST Entrepreneurs 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.

Stand-Up India offers composite bank loans from ₹10 lakh to ₹1 crore to women and SC/ST entrepreneurs launching greenfield enterprises. The loan covers up to 75% of the project cost; the promoter must contribute the remaining 25% as margin money. The loan is repayable in up to 7 years with an 18-month moratorium (repayment holiday) from the first disbursement, giving the business time to generate revenue. No equity is taken, so the promoter retains full ownership. The scheme is backed by a government commitment that at least one woman borrower and one SC/ST borrower is funded per bank branch, which increases credit access for underrepresented groups. Additionally, the loan may be covered under CGTMSE guarantee, reducing collateral requirements.

Stand-Up India — Loans for Women & SC/ST Entrepreneurs is offered by Ministry of Finance, Govt of India, a government body. As a government-backed debt / loan, it is publicly funded and open to eligible startups across India. You can verify current details and timelines on the provider's official website before applying.

Before you apply to Stand-Up India — Loans for Women & SC/ST Entrepreneurs, 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.

Stand-Up India — Loans for Women & SC/ST Entrepreneurs is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹10L – ₹1Cr. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.