Stand Up India Scheme

Stand-Up India is a targeted credit scheme that ensures at least one SC or ST borrower and at least one woman borrower per bank branch receives a loan for setting up a greenfield enterprise — a brand new business, not expansion of an existing one. Loans range from ₹10 lakh to ₹1 crore for manufacturing, services, or trading businesses. As of July 2026, over 2.2 lakh loans totalling more than ₹53,000 crore have been sanctioned since the scheme's launch in 2016.

What makes Stand-Up India distinct is its bank-branch mandate. Every Scheduled Commercial Bank branch in India — including SBI, PNB, Canara Bank, and private banks — is required to extend at least two loans under this scheme per year. This means even in smaller towns, the local bank branch has an obligation to support SC/ST and women entrepreneurs.

Eligible borrowers must be above 18 years, not a defaulter, and not have previously received central government subsidy for business purposes. The business must be in the applicant's name (sole proprietorship for individuals). Apply at standupmitra.in or directly at any Scheduled Commercial Bank branch. Our editorial team reviewed scheme guidelines against the SIDBI Stand-Up India portal, July 2026.