Stand-Up India 2026: get a ₹10 lakh–₹1 crore bank loan for a new SC/ST or women-led business. Eligibility, margin, interest & how to apply.
स्टैंड-अप इंडिया 2026: SC/ST और महिला उद्यमियों के लिए नए कारोबार हेतु ₹10 लाख से ₹1 करोड़ तक बैंक लोन। पात्रता और आवेदन की जानकारी।
📢 Latest Update — June 2026:
As of 13 October 2025, banks had sanctioned about ₹62,807.46 crore to roughly 2,75,321 SC/ST and women entrepreneurs under Stand-Up India. The original scheme window closed on 31 March 2025, and in March 2026 Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that a revamped Stand-Up India scheme is being finalised, which is expected to raise the upper loan limit from ₹1 crore towards ₹2 crore. Until the revamped version is formally notified after Cabinet approval, banks continue to accept and process applications on the standupmitra.in portal under the existing ₹10 lakh–₹1 crore framework.
⚡ Key Facts at a Glance
What is the Stand-Up India Scheme 2026 and Who Benefits
The Stand-Up India Scheme 2026 helps first-time entrepreneurs from Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and women communities get a bank loan between ₹10 lakh and ₹1 crore to start a brand-new business. Launched by the Government of India on 5 April 2016 and run through the Department of Financial Services, the scheme requires every bank branch of a Scheduled Commercial Bank to fund at least one SC or ST borrower and at least one woman borrower for a greenfield (first-of-its-kind) enterprise. If you have a solid business idea but no big collateral and no family money to put in, this is one of the most powerful doors the government has opened for you. The loan is a composite one, meaning it bundles your term loan (for machines, equipment and setup) and your working capital (for raw material, salaries and running costs) into a single sanction.
What stands out is the scale of impact. Official figures show banks had sanctioned about ₹62,807.46 crore to roughly 2,75,321 borrowers by October 2025, and between April 2022 and March 2025 alone the scheme backed 1,26,508 women, 30,145 SC and 9,625 ST entrepreneurs. Take Priya, an SC entrepreneur in Solapur (Maharashtra) who wanted to set up a packaged-spice manufacturing unit. She had ₹2.5 lakh of her own savings. Under Stand-Up India she applied for a ₹22 lakh composite loan — the bank treated her ₹2.5 lakh as part of the margin she had to bring, sanctioned the rest as term loan plus working capital, and her loan was covered by a credit guarantee so she did not need to mortgage any property. Within a year her unit was supplying local kirana stores, and her EMIs began only after the moratorium period, giving her business room to find its feet. Editor's note: figures verified against the standupmitra.in October 2025 dashboard release.
Who is Eligible — Complete Criteria 2026
- ✅ You must be a Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) entrepreneur, OR a woman entrepreneur of any category.
- ✅ You must be 18 years of age or above on the date of application.
- ✅ The loan is only for a greenfield project — a first-time, brand-new venture in manufacturing, services, trading, or activities allied to agriculture (like dairy, food processing, poultry).
- ✅ For a company, partnership or LLP (non-individual entity), at least 51% of the shareholding and controlling stake must be held by an SC/ST and/or woman entrepreneur.
- ✅ You should not be in default to any bank or financial institution.
- ✅ Loan size must fall between ₹10 lakh and ₹1 crore (composite loan covering term loan and working capital).
- ❌ NOT eligible: existing businesses, second/expansion units, or anyone who has run a similar venture before — the scheme is strictly for first-time entrepreneurs.
- ❌ NOT eligible: a general-category man (the scheme is only for SC, ST or women borrowers).
How to Apply on Standupmitra Portal — Step-by-Step 2026
- Open the official portal: Go to www.standupmitra.in and click the "Register Here" / "Apply Now" button on the home page. This is the only official Stand-Up India portal — do not pay any agent.
- Answer the readiness questions: The portal first asks a few quick questions (are you SC/ST/woman, is it a new venture, do you have land/premises, your experience, loan amount needed). Based on your answers it classifies you as a Trainee Borrower or a Ready Borrower.
- Choose your hand-holding support: Select whether you need help with skill training, a detailed project report (DPR), bank-account opening, margin-money subsidy, or a connection to a mentor agency. The portal links you to the relevant agency in your district.
- Fill the loan application: Enter your personal details, business details (sector, location, projected turnover), the exact loan amount (between ₹10 lakh and ₹1 crore) and how much margin money you can bring (minimum 10% of project cost).
- Pick your bank branch: Select a nearby branch of a Scheduled Commercial Bank (SBI, Bank of Baroda, PNB and others all participate). Your application is routed online to that branch's designated officer.
- Submit documents and track: Upload or carry your KYC, caste certificate (for SC/ST), project report and quotations to the branch. The portal generates an application ID so you can track the status of your loan online.
- Bank appraisal and sanction: The branch appraises your project, may ask for a revised DPR, and on approval sanctions the loan with a RuPay debit card for your working-capital account.
Documents Required
| Document | Purpose | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Aadhaar + PAN card | Identity & KYC of applicant | Self-attested copy |
| Caste certificate (SC/ST) | Proof of SC/ST status | Government-issued copy |
| Passport-size photographs | Loan application & RuPay card | Recent colour photos |
| Detailed Project Report (DPR) | Business plan, costs, projections | Typed PDF / printout |
| Address & business proof | Premises/rent, Udyam registration | Copy of agreement/registration |
| Machinery / supplier quotations | Justify the loan amount | Vendor quotation copies |
| Bank statements (if any) | Credit assessment | Last 6 months |
Common Problems and Solutions
| Problem | Why it happens | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Branch says "not a new business" | Existing GST/trade licence in the same activity | Apply only for a genuinely greenfield venture; document it clearly |
| Bank asks for collateral | Branch staff unaware of CGFSIL guarantee cover | Quote the Credit Guarantee Fund (CGFSIL); escalate to the branch manager |
| Loan amount below ₹10 lakh need | Project is small in scale | For under ₹10 lakh, use PM Mudra Yojana instead |
| Weak project report rejected | No cost/sales projections | Use portal hand-holding agency to prepare a bankable DPR free |
| Application stuck for weeks | No follow-up with branch officer | Track via portal application ID; file grievance on pgportal.gov.in |
| Confused with other schemes | Mudra and SVANidhi look similar | Stand-Up India = ₹10L–₹1Cr new business for SC/ST/women only |
Important Dates & Deadlines 2026
- 📅 Scheme launched: 5 April 2016.
- 📅 Original scheme window closed: 31 March 2025.
- 📅 Revamped Stand-Up India (higher limit towards ₹2 crore): announced by the Finance Minister in March 2026 and under preparation; expected to be notified after Cabinet approval.
- 📅 Application deadline: there is no annual last date — banks accept applications on a rolling basis throughout the year.
- 📅 Loan repayment tenure: up to 7 years, with a moratorium (no-EMI period) of up to 18 months.
Frequently Asked Questions — Stand-Up India Scheme
Q: How much loan can I get under Stand-Up India in 2026?
You can get a composite bank loan between ₹10 lakh and ₹1 crore (term loan plus working capital) to set up a new business. The revamped scheme being finalised in 2026 is expected to raise the upper limit towards ₹2 crore. Apply on www.standupmitra.in or any participating bank branch.
Q: Who can apply for the Stand-Up India loan?
Any Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) entrepreneur or any woman entrepreneur, aged 18 or above, setting up a first-time (greenfield) venture in manufacturing, services, trading or agri-allied activity. For a company or partnership, SC/ST or women must hold at least 51% stake.
Q: How is Stand-Up India different from PM Mudra and PM SVANidhi?
Mudra gives smaller business loans up to ₹20 lakh to any micro-entrepreneur, and PM SVANidhi gives tiny ₹10,000–₹50,000 working-capital loans to street vendors. Stand-Up India is bigger (₹10 lakh–₹1 crore), only for SC/ST and women, and only for a brand-new enterprise. See more on our scheme blog.
Q: How much money do I need to put in myself?
You must bring at least 10% of the project cost as your own margin. The bank can fund up to 85% of the project, and the total margin (including any eligible state subsidy) can go up to 25%. So on a ₹40 lakh project you would typically need at least ₹4 lakh of your own contribution.
Q: What is the interest rate on a Stand-Up India loan?
The interest rate cannot exceed the bank's applicable rate, which is the base rate / MCLR plus 3% plus a tenor premium. The bank applies the lowest rate available for your rating category, so the exact rate depends on your bank and project.
Q: Do I need to give property or collateral as security?
Usually no third-party collateral is needed. Loans are covered under the Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Stand-Up India Loans (CGFSIL) along with the primary security (hypothecation of the assets bought with the loan). If a branch insists on collateral, ask them about the CGFSIL guarantee.
Q: How long do I get to repay the loan?
The repayment tenure is up to 7 years, with a moratorium period of up to 18 months during which you do not pay EMIs — giving your new business time to start earning before repayment begins.
Q: I have only an idea, not a project report. Can I still apply?
Yes. On standupmitra.in you can register as a "Trainee Borrower" and the portal connects you to hand-holding agencies for free help with skill training, opening a bank account, and preparing a Detailed Project Report before you formally apply.
Helpline Numbers & Grievance Portal
For any help with your Stand-Up India loan, registration or status, use these official channels:
- 📞 National toll-free helpline: 1800-180-1111
- 🌐 Official portal: www.standupmitra.in (registration, application tracking, hand-holding agencies)
- ✉️ Email support: support@standupmitra.in or help@standupmitra.in
- 🏛️ Grievance redressal: if your application is delayed or wrongly rejected, file a complaint on the central public grievance portal at pgportal.gov.in against the Department of Financial Services or your bank.
📋 संक्षिप्त जानकारी (हिंदी में)
स्टैंड-अप इंडिया योजना 2026 के तहत SC/ST और महिला उद्यमियों को नया (ग्रीनफील्ड) कारोबार शुरू करने के लिए ₹10 लाख से ₹1 करोड़ तक का बैंक लोन मिलता है। आवेदक की उम्र 18 साल या अधिक होनी चाहिए, और कंपनी/साझेदारी की स्थिति में SC/ST या महिला की कम-से-कम 51% हिस्सेदारी जरूरी है। आपको प्रोजेक्ट लागत का कम-से-कम 10% मार्जिन खुद लगाना होता है, लोन 7 साल में चुकाना होता है और 18 महीने तक की मोहलत मिलती है। आवेदन के लिए www.standupmitra.in पोर्टल पर रजिस्टर करें या किसी बैंक शाखा में जाएं। मदद के लिए टोल-फ्री नंबर 1800-180-1111 पर कॉल करें और शिकायत के लिए pgportal.gov.in पर जाएं।
Topics