IndiaPosted at: Nov 11 2026 4:39PM


Cabinet extends Stand-Up India scheme till 2031, targets 2.5 lakh new entrepreneurs

New Delhi, Nov 11 (UNI) The union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a five-year extension of the Stand-Up India Scheme until March 31, 2031, setting a target of bringing at least 2.5 lakh additional entrepreneurs from women, Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) into the formal credit and enterprise ecosystem.
The decision is aimed at strengthening entrepreneurship among traditionally underserved sections by improving their access to institutional finance.
The Cabinet also approved the creation of a Rs 4,111 crore Credit Guarantee Corpus to strengthen the scheme's credit guarantee mechanism and encourage banks and other lending institutions to extend financial assistance to eligible entrepreneurs.
Announcing the decision after the Cabinet meeting, union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw said the scheme would continue to facilitate institutional credit for aspiring entrepreneurs and promote the establishment of new enterprises.
Launched in April 2016, the Stand-Up India Scheme has so far facilitated loans to more than 2.75 lakh women and SC/ST entrepreneurs, helping them establish greenfield enterprises across various sectors. The fresh extension is expected to build on this achievement by bringing another 2.5 lakh beneficiaries under its ambit over the next five years.
Under the scheme, eligible women and SC/ST entrepreneurs can access bank loans ranging from above Rs 10 lakh to Rs 1 crore for setting up greenfield enterprises, defined as businesses being established for the first time by the borrower. The financial assistance can be structured as a composite loan covering both working capital and term-loan requirements or as a term loan, depending on the nature and requirements of the proposed venture. The loan can cover up to 85 per cent of the project cost.
The scheme extends to manufacturing, services, trading and agriculture-allied activities, offering prospective entrepreneurs opportunities to establish businesses across a wide range of economic sectors. A credit guarantee covering 85 per cent of the loan amount is available to support lending institutions, while the standard guarantee fee has been fixed at 0.50 per cent.
The continuation of the scheme is particularly significant for first-generation entrepreneurs, for whom access to affordable and adequate institutional finance remains one of the biggest hurdles in setting up businesses. By providing a dedicated credit channel backed by a guarantee mechanism, the initiative seeks to reduce lending risks for banks and improve the prospects of borrowers who might otherwise struggle to secure funds for new ventures.
The government's renewed push through the five-year extension is aimed at widening the participation of women and members of SC and ST communities in enterprise creation, generating employment and strengthening economic self-reliance. With a fresh Credit Guarantee Corpus of Rs 4,111 crore and a target of 2.5 lakh additional beneficiaries by March 2031, the scheme is expected to give further momentum to inclusive entrepreneurship and broaden access to formal finance. UNI SKA AAB
Tags: #Cabinet extends Stand-Up India scheme till 2031# targets 2.5 lakh new entrepreneurs
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