₹10 Lakh to ₹1 Crore for first-time entrepreneurs.
Every scheduled commercial bank branch in India is mandated to finance at least one SC or ST borrower and one woman borrower setting up a new enterprise. Stand-Up India is the scheme that makes that mandate work in practice.
Who it is for and how the money is structured
Eligibility is narrow by design: an SC or ST individual, or a woman of any caste or community, above 18 years, setting up a new (greenfield) enterprise — not expanding an existing one — in manufacturing, services, trading or agri-allied activities. For a partnership, LLP or company, at least 51% of the equity must be held by an eligible SC, ST or woman promoter.
The loan is composite — combining term loan and working capital in one facility, ranging from ₹10 Lakh to ₹1 Crore, typically covering 85% of project cost with the remainder as promoter margin. No third-party collateral or personal guarantor is required for the standard facility, since it is covered under the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Stand-Up India (CGSSI), administered by the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company. Repayment typically runs up to 7 years with an 18-month moratorium.
Application is via the standupmitra.in portal, which routes your profile to eligible bank branches and provides pre-loan and post-loan handholding through a mentor — a meaningful support layer for a genuine first-time entrepreneur navigating bank processes.
Who qualifies
- SC or ST individual (any gender), or woman entrepreneur of any category, above 18 years
- First-time entrepreneur — no existing business in the same line of activity
- Manufacturing, services, trading, or agriculture-allied sectors (dairy, fisheries, agri-processing)
- For partnership/LLP/company applicants, at least 51% shareholding by an eligible promoter
- No wilful default record with any bank or financial institution
What catches applicants out
The greenfield-only rule is strictly applied
Stand-Up India cannot fund the expansion of a business you already run in the same activity, even if you are personally eligible under the SC/ST/women criteria. An expanding business should look at Mudra or standard MSME credit instead.
The 51% ownership rule for entities
For a partnership or company applying under Stand-Up India, the eligible SC, ST or woman promoter must hold at least 51% of the equity — a minority stake by an eligible promoter does not qualify the entity.
Timelines run longer than Mudra
Because the loan size is larger and appraisal more involved, sanction typically takes 30 to 60 days, longer than a Mudra loan. Building this into your project timeline avoids unrealistic expectations.
Documents required
Incomplete files cause most multi-week delays. We assemble the full set upfront, in the order credit teams read it.
KYC & constitution
- PAN & Aadhaar of all promoters / partners / directors
- Certificate of incorporation, MOA-AOA or partnership deed
- Board resolution or partners' authority letter
- GST registration & trade licence
Category & project
- Caste certificate (SC/ST) from the competent authority, where applicable
- Detailed project report for the greenfield enterprise
- Partnership deed / incorporation documents showing 51%+ eligible ownership, for entities
- Premises and quotation/cost estimate for the project
Applying through Stand-Up India
Eligibility and structure check
We confirm you meet the SC/ST/women and greenfield criteria, and that any entity structure satisfies the 51% rule.
Project report and portal registration
Project report prepared and registered on standupmitra.in, which routes your profile to eligible bank branches.
Bank appraisal and mentoring
Application progresses through bank appraisal with portal-assigned mentoring support through to sanction.
Disbursal
Composite term loan and working capital disbursed against the sanctioned project structure.
Related facilities & deep-dive guides
Every facility below is placed through the same 80+ lender panel. The long-form guides carry the working numbers, worked examples and lender-by-lender detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions our advisory desk is asked most often about Stand-Up India.
No. Eligibility is specifically SC or ST individuals of any gender, or women entrepreneurs of any caste or category. A general-category male applicant does not qualify under this scheme, though other routes such as Mudra or standard MSME credit remain available.
No, the standard facility is covered under the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Stand-Up India (CGSSI), removing the need for third-party collateral or a personal guarantor. Borrowers who wish to offer additional security voluntarily may do so to negotiate a better rate.
No. The scheme is exclusively for new, greenfield enterprises. An existing business in the same line of activity is not eligible, regardless of the promoter's SC/ST/women status.
At least 51% of the shareholding or partnership equity must be held by an eligible SC, ST or woman promoter. A minority stake by an eligible individual does not qualify the entity for the scheme.
Banks are directed to charge their lowest applicable rate for the category, typically structured as MCLR plus 3% plus a tenor premium. This is generally more favourable than an unsecured commercial rate for a comparable first-time borrower.
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