Stand-Up India Scheme: Eligibility, Loan Terms and 2026 Status

Stand-Up India offered bank loans of ₹10 lakh to ₹1 crore to SC, ST and women entrepreneurs setting up a new (greenfield) business. The Department of Financial Services says the scheme ran up to 31 March 2025. In March 2026 the Finance Minister told the Lok Sabha that a revamped version is being prepared, and no replacement had been notified when we checked on 17 September 2026.

Several bank websites and the Standup Mitra portal still describe the loan. Before you prepare a project report, ask your branch whether it is still sanctioning loans under this scheme.

Key facts

Where the scheme stands in 2026

DFS’s scheme page says Stand-Up India was in operation up to 31 March 2025. The Union Budget 2025-26 then announced a new scheme for 5 lakh first-time women, SC and ST entrepreneurs, with term loans of up to ₹2 crore over five years. The Budget said it would draw on the lessons of Stand-Up India.

On 16 March 2026, All India Radio reported the Finance Minister’s statement in the Lok Sabha: the scheme ended in March 2025, NITI Aayog and other departments had studied it, and a revamped version would be launched. Until that scheme is notified, its terms are not known.

Bank product pages have not caught up. ICICI Bank’s page, for example, notes that guarantee issuance under the Stand-Up India fund is on hold. Treat any bank page as a description of the old product, and confirm the position in writing with your branch.

Who qualified

The target was at least one SC or ST borrower and at least one woman borrower for every bank branch. Only scheduled commercial banks lent under it.

Loan size, margin, tenure and interest

The loan combined a term loan and working capital, from ₹10 lakh up to ₹1 crore. Banks could release working capital as a cash credit limit; Bank of Maharashtra issues a RuPay debit card to operate it.

Bank finance covered up to 85% of the project cost. The Budget for 2021-22 cut the margin from up to 25% to up to 15%. That 15% can come partly from a Central or State subsidy scheme, but SBI still requires you to put in at least 10% of the project cost yourself.

You repaid over up to seven years, with a moratorium of up to 18 months. The interest rate was the bank’s lowest rate for your rating category, capped at MCLR + 3% + tenor premium. SBI’s page quotes its rate as EBLR + 3.25% and says there is no interest subvention. Use the business loan EMI calculator to test the repayment on a quoted rate.

How the loan was secured

Banks took primary security on the assets financed. In place of collateral, they could cover the loan under the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Stand-Up India (CGSSI), managed by the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC). SBI lists the cover as a maximum of 80%.

The guarantee protects the bank, not you. If the business fails, you still owe the full amount, and the default shows up in your credit report.

How to apply and what handholding was offered

1. Ask your bank branch whether it is accepting Stand-Up India applications now.
2. Register on standupmitra.in, or apply on jansamarth.in if your bank uses it.
3. Enter your category, location, business type and project cost.
4. Say whether you need handholding before you apply.
5. Choose a bank, submit the application, and upload any extra documents through the portal later if the bank asks.
6. Meet the branch for appraisal, then sign the loan papers and bring in your margin.

Handholding on Standup Mitra covers seven areas: vocational skilling, financial literacy, entrepreneurship development programmes, mentoring, project report preparation, loan application filling, and work sheds and margin money subsidy through District Industries Centres.

Documents banks ask for

ICICI Bank lists this indicative set:

• Filled application form
• Self-attested KYC documents
• Bank statements not more than 45 days old
• Proof of business continuity
• ITR acknowledgement and computation
• Audited or projected balance sheet

For a new unit, the projected balance sheet and a project report carry most of the weight. Your bank may add partnership deeds, company papers, quotations or a lease for the premises.

Stand-Up India vs Mudra vs PMEGP

For a smaller first business, our guide to the Mudra loan scheme is the more practical route today. PMEGP eligibility and subsidy explains that scheme’s pause. Our overview of government business loan schemes compares rates and EMIs across all of them.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Stand-Up India scheme still active?

DFS says it ran up to 31 March 2025, and the Finance Minister said in March 2026 that a revamped version is being prepared. Ask your bank whether it is still sanctioning loans under the old terms.

What is the loan amount under Stand-Up India?

Between ₹10 lakh and ₹1 crore, as a composite loan covering both the term loan and working capital.

Who is eligible for a Stand-Up India loan?

SC/ST and women entrepreneurs aged 18 or above starting their first enterprise. In a company or firm, they must hold at least 51% and control it.

What is Standup Mitra?

Standup Mitra (standupmitra.in) is the scheme’s online portal, where you register, find handholding support and send a loan application to a bank.

Can I get a Stand-Up India loan for an existing business?

No. The loan is only for a greenfield enterprise, which is your first venture in that sector. Mudra covers existing micro businesses.

How much money do I need to bring?

The margin is up to 15% of project cost. You must put in at least 10% yourself, even if a subsidy covers part of it.

What is the new ₹2 crore scheme for women and SC/ST entrepreneurs?

The Budget 2025-26 announced term loans of up to ₹2 crore for 5 lakh first-time women, SC and ST entrepreneurs. Its guidelines had not been published when we checked.

Sources

• Stand Up India Scheme (SUPI) — Department of Financial Services (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• Stand-Up India Scheme provides financial and institutional aid (22 Jul 2025) — Press Information Bureau (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• New loan scheme for women, SC/ST entrepreneurs in Budget 2025-26 (24 Mar 2025) — Press Information Bureau (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• Stand Up India Scheme extended up to 2025 (20 Jul 2021) — Press Information Bureau (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• FM announces revamped Stand-Up India scheme — All India Radio News (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• Stand-Up India FAQs — Standup Mitra (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• Stand-Up India Scheme — State Bank of India (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• Stand-Up India Scheme — Bank of Maharashtra (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• Stand-Up India — ICICI Bank (checked 16 Sep 2026)