Stand-Up India Scheme

Stand-Up India Scheme

About
The Stand Up India Scheme was launched by the Ministry of Finance on 5th April 2016 to foster entrepreneurship at the grassroots level. This initiative focuses on the economic empowerment of marginalized sections of society and job creation. The scheme has been extended till 2025.

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Purpose

1. Encourage Entrepreneurship:
   • Targeted support for women, Scheduled Castes (SC), and Scheduled Tribes (ST) categories.
2. Greenfield Enterprises:
   • Support projects in manufacturing, services, trading, and agriculture-allied activities.
3. Bank Loans:
   • Facilitate loans between ₹10 lakh and ₹100 lakh for eligible entrepreneurs through Scheduled Commercial Banks.
   • Ensure at least one SC/ST borrower and one-woman borrower per bank branch.

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Loan Facilitation 
Eligible applicants can apply via:

• Bank branches directly.
• The Stand-Up India Portal (www.standupmitra.in).
• Lead District Managers (LDMs).

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Eligibility Criteria

1. For Individuals:
   • SC/ST and/or women entrepreneurs aged 18 years or above.
   • Only greenfield projects (first-time ventures in manufacturing, services, trading, or agriculture-allied activities).
2. For Non-Individual Enterprises:
   • At least 51% of shareholding and control must belong to SC/ST or women entrepreneurs.
3. Other Conditions:
   • The borrower should not have defaulted on loans from any bank/financial institution.
   • Borrowers must contribute a minimum of 10% of the project cost.
   • Up to 15% margin money can be provided through convergence with eligible Central/State schemes.

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Achievements

• A total of ₹40,710 crore has been sanctioned to 1,80,636 accounts over the last 7 years.
• Women beneficiaries account for over 80% of the loans disbursed under the scheme.

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Key Takeaways
The Stand Up India Scheme plays a pivotal role in promoting inclusive economic growth by empowering women and marginalized communities. By providing financial support for greenfield ventures, the scheme fosters innovation, entrepreneurship, and job creation, contributing significantly to the country's socio-economic development.

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