Startup-relevant scheme · Department of Financial Services
Stand-Up India
The 2016 scheme's window ended in Mar 2025. On 16 Mar 2026 the Finance Minister told Lok Sabha it is being redrafted (after NITI Aayog studies) and a new scheme will go to Cabinet; no relaunch had been notified as of early Oct 2026. The Budget 2025 promise of term loans up to ₹2 crore for 5 lakh first-time women/SC/ST entrepreneurs is also still awaited. Banks' Stand-Up Mitra portal remains the place to watch.
- Amount
- Loans above ₹10 lakh and up to ₹1 crore
- Type of support
- Loan / Credit
- Best for
- Seed / Early-Stage
- Who can apply
- SC/ST entrepreneurs, Women entrepreneurs, Aspiring founders
Stand-Up India helps SC/ST and women entrepreneurs get bank loans to start a new business for the first time.
Who can apply?
- Applicant must be from the SC/ST category or a woman, above 18 years of age. Finance is provided only for greenfield enterprises.
What do you get?
- Eligible applicants are provided composite loan (inclusive of term loan and working capital) above ₹10 lakh and up to ₹1 crore.
- The loan is repayable in 7 years with a maximum moratorium period of 18 months.
How to apply
The original window ended in March 2025. On 16 Mar 2026 the Finance Minister said a redrafted scheme will go to Cabinet; it had not been notified as of early Oct 2026. Watch standupmitra.in.
Objectives
The Scheme aims to finance Scheduled Caste (SC)/ Scheduled Tribe (ST) and/or women entrepreneurs by facilitating bank loans for setting up a greenfield project enterprise in manufacturing, services, trading sector and activities allied to agriculture. The objective is to facilitate bank loans between ₹10 lakh and ₹1 crore to at least one SC or ST entrepreneur and at least one-woman entrepreneur per bank branch for setting up a greenfield enterprise. This enterprise may be in manufacturing, services, agri-allied activities or the trading sector.
Key links
- Link static.pib.gov.in
Deadlines, amounts and windows change. Check the official portal before you apply.
Related schemes
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- PMMYCollateral-free Mudra loans up to ₹20 lakh from banks, NBFCs and MFIs to start, run or expand a small business.Open now
- NLM100% central assistance for extension, R&D and innovation in livestock, plus startup incentives and a Grand Challenge programme.Active