Stand-Up India Scheme Marks 7 Years of Empowering Marginalized Entrepreneurs

The Stand-Up India Scheme, launched on April 5, 2016, has completed seven years of empowering marginalized entrepreneurs, with over Rs. 61,000 crore sanctioned in loans. The initiative, driven by the Ministry of Finance under the banner of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, was designed to provide financial assistance to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and women entrepreneurs. It aimed to enable these groups to set up new enterprises and contribute to inclusive economic growth. Over the years, the scheme has expanded significantly, demonstrating a transformative impact on entrepreneurship, job creation, and financial inclusion across the country.

Key Highlights

• Launch Date: April 5, 2016, under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• Purpose: Empower SC, ST, and women entrepreneurs by providing bank loans for starting new enterprises.

Growth Milestones

• The total loan amount sanctioned increased from Rs. 16,085.07 crore (March 31, 2019) to Rs. 61,020.41 crore (March 17, 2025).
• Significant Growth in loan accounts and sanctioned amounts across all target groups:
• SC loan accounts increased from 9,399 to 46,248 with loans rising from Rs. 1,826.21 crore to Rs. 9,747.11 crore.
• ST loan accounts increased from 2,841 to 15,228, with loans rising from Rs. 574.65 crore to Rs. 3,244.07 crore.
• Women Entrepreneurs: Loan accounts surged from 55,644 to 1,90,844, with sanctioned loans rising from Rs. 12,452.37 crore to Rs. 43,984.10 crore.

Impact

• Job creation and inclusive economic growth across the country.
• The scheme has moved from being a funding initiative to a transformative movement, contributing to the empowerment of marginalized groups.

Key Achievement

• The growth of loan disbursements showcases the expanding reach and impact of the scheme in financial empowerment for marginalized entrepreneurs.