India is growing rapidly. Hopes, Aspirations and Expectations are rising. There is a large group of potential entrepreneurs particularly women and Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) who want to set up an enterprise of their own, which allows them to grow and thrive. Such entrepreneurs are spread across country and are bubbling with ideas on what they can do for themselves and their families.

Aspiring SC, ST and women entrepreneurs are energetic and enthusiastic but may face challenges in converting their dream to reality. Recognizing these challenges, Stand up India Scheme was launched on 5^th April 2016 to promote entrepreneurship at grassroot level focusing on economic empowerment and job creation. This scheme has been extended up to the year 2025.

As we celebrate the fifth anniversary of Stand Up India Scheme, let us take a look at the features and achievement of this Scheme.

The objective of Stand-Up India is to promote entrepreneurship amongst women, Scheduled Castes (SC) & Scheduled Tribes (ST) categories, to help them in starting a greenfield enterprise in trading, manufacturing and services sector, by both ready and trainee borrowers.

The purpose of Stand-Up India is to:

• promote entrepreneurship amongst women, SC & ST category. 
• Provide loans for setting up greenfield enterprises in manufacturing,  services or the trading sector & activities allied to agriculture by both ready and trainee borrowers
• facilitate bank loans between ₹ 10 lakh to ₹ 1 crore to at least one Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe borrower and at least one woman borrower per bank branch of Scheduled Commercial Banks

Why Stand-Up India?

The Stand-Up India scheme is based on recognition of the challenges faced by SC, ST and women entrepreneurs in setting up enterprises, obtaining loans and other support needed from time to time for succeeding in business. The scheme therefore endeavors to create an eco-system which facilitates and continues to provide a supportive environment for doing business. The scheme seeks to give access to loans from bank branches to borrowers to help them set up their own enterprise. The scheme, which covers all branches of Scheduled Commercial Banks, will be accessed in three potential ways:

• Directly at the branch or,
• Through Stand-Up India Portal (www.standupmitra.in) or,
• Through the Lead District Manager (LDM).

Who all are eligible for a loan?

• SC/ST and/or women entrepreneurs, above 18 years of age.
• Loans under the scheme are available for only green field projects. Green field signifies, in this context, the first time venture of the beneficiary in the manufacturing,  services or the trading sector & activities allied to agriculture
• In case of non-individual enterprises, 51% of the shareholding and controlling stake should be held by either SC/ST and/or Women Entrepreneur.
• Borrowers should not be in default to any bank/financial institution.

Achievements of this Scheme as on 23.03.2021

• Rs. 25,586 crore has been sanctioned under Stand Up India Scheme to over 1,14,322 accounts upto 23.03.2021 since inception of the Scheme.
• Total number of SC/ST and Woman borrowers benefited under Stand Up India scheme, as on 23.03.2021 are as below:

Amount in Rs. crore

SC		ST		Woman		Total
No Of Accounts	Sanctioned Amount	No Of Accounts	Sanctioned Amount	No Of Accounts	Sanctioned Amount	No Of Accounts	Sanctioned Amount
16258	3335.87	4970	1049.72	93094	21200.77	114322	25586.37

Stand-Up India scheme expands access to bank loans for women and SC/ST entrepreneurs to start greenfield enterprises. Stand-Up India Scheme expands access to bank finance for women and Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe entrepreneurs to set up greenfield enterprises in manufacturing, services, trading and allied agricultural activities. Loans are channeled via bank branches, the Stand-Up India Portal, and Lead District Managers; non-individual enterprises must have 51% shareholding and control by eligible categories. Borrowers must be adults, not in default, and the scheme targets at least one SC/ST and one woman borrower per scheduled commercial bank branch, with the scheme extended for a further operational horizon and significant cumulative sanctions reported.