Stand-Up India Scheme Extended Until March 2031
The Union Cabinet approved a five-year extension with a Rs 4,111 crore credit guarantee corpus for women, SC and ST entrepreneurs.
Key Takeaways
- Stand-Up India has been extended for five years, up to March 31, 2031.
- The extended scheme has a credit guarantee corpus of Rs 4,111 crore.
- The government aims to help 2.5 lakh more women, SC and ST entrepreneurs.
- Loans range from above Rs 10 lakh up to Rs 1 crore, with an 85% guarantee cover.
- More than 2.75 lakh entrepreneurs have got loans since April 2016.
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The Union Cabinet has extended the Stand-Up India scheme, which helps women, Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) entrepreneurs get bank loans to start new businesses, for five more years, up to March 31, 2031. The decision was taken on November 11, 2026, at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw briefed the media on it.
The government said the extended scheme will have a credit guarantee corpus of Rs 4,111 crore. It aims to give financial help to 2.5 lakh more entrepreneurs over the five years. Since its launch in April 2016, the scheme has helped more than 2.75 lakh women, SC and ST entrepreneurs get loans, the government said.
Stand-Up India extension at a glance
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Decision | Union Cabinet approved continuing the scheme for five years |
| Date of decision | November 11, 2026 |
| New end date | March 31, 2031 |
| Credit guarantee corpus | Rs 4,111 crore |
| Target | 2.5 lakh more entrepreneurs over five years |
| Who it serves | Women, SC and ST entrepreneurs |
| Loan size | Above Rs 10 lakh and up to Rs 1 crore |
| Guarantee cover | 85% of the loan amount |
| Guarantee fee | 0.5%, with no additional risk premium |
| Entrepreneurs helped so far | More than 2.75 lakh since April 2016 |
How Stand-Up India loans work for new businesses
Stand-Up India supports greenfield enterprises, which means businesses being set up for the first time. Loans under the scheme go to new ventures in manufacturing, services, trading and agri-allied activities. A loan can be a term loan, or a composite loan that combines a term loan with working capital, and it can cover up to 85% of the project cost, according to the government.
The scheme sets a goal for every bank branch: at least one loan to an SC or ST borrower and at least one loan to a woman borrower. The loans are backed by a credit guarantee that covers 85% of the loan amount. The government said the guarantee fee has been standardised at 0.5%, with no additional risk premium.
Stand-Up India's journey since 2016
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| April 2016 | Stand-Up India scheme launched |
| By April 2022 | Scheme extended up to 2025 |
| November 11, 2026 | Union Cabinet extends the scheme up to March 31, 2031, with a Rs 4,111 crore credit guarantee corpus |
What the government said about the next five years of Stand-Up India
The government said the extended scheme aims to give financial help to 2.5 lakh more women, SC and ST entrepreneurs by March 31, 2031. It said the scheme will run for five years with a credit guarantee corpus of Rs 4,111 crore, and that the guarantee fee has been fixed at a standard 0.5%.
Where Stand-Up India stands after the extension
Stand-Up India now runs up to March 31, 2031, with a credit guarantee corpus of Rs 4,111 crore. Since April 2016, it has helped more than 2.75 lakh women, SC and ST entrepreneurs get loans, and the government has set a target of 2.5 lakh more over the next five years.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Stand-Up India?
How long has Stand-Up India been extended?
When was the Stand-Up India extension approved?
How big is the Stand-Up India credit guarantee corpus?
How many entrepreneurs does Stand-Up India aim to support?
How many entrepreneurs has Stand-Up India helped so far?
How large can a Stand-Up India loan be?
How much of the loan does the Stand-Up India guarantee cover?
What is the Stand-Up India guarantee fee?
Who can get a loan under Stand-Up India?
Which sectors does Stand-Up India cover?
When was Stand-Up India launched?
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