Schemes for young women entrepreneurs in India: Stand-Up India, Mahila Udyam Nidhi, and state programmes

Stand-Up India explicitly reserves a portion of its lending capacity for women first-time entrepreneurs. Mahila Udyam Nidhi extends term loans up to ten lakh rupees through SIDBI for women-owned micro and small enterprises. Several states (Andhra, Karnataka, Telangana) run additional women-entrepreneurship schemes with capital subsidy.

YouthPower tracks 139 schemes in this category, of which 8 are central government programmes and 131 are state government programmes.

What to look for when applying

Stand-Up India requires the woman to be a first-time entrepreneur in greenfield activity. Mahila Udyam Nidhi requires at least 51 per cent ownership by women. Document evidence of business plan, registration, and bank account in the woman's name is mandatory.

Named examples

• Agriculture And Processed Foods Export Promotion Scheme Of APEDA For The 15th Finance Commission Cycle (2021-22 To 2025-26) (Central · subsidy · Ministry Of Commerce And Industry)
  The Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) is an export promotion scheme run by APEDA. The scheme aims to facilitate the export of agri-products by providing assistance to exporters.
• Loan Based Schemes For Safai Karamchari - Sanitary Marts Scheme (Central · loan · Ministry Of Social Justice and Empowerment)
  A contributory Loan scheme by Ministry of Social justice and Empowerment for individual beneficiaries/self help groups of Liberated Safai Karamchari, Manual Scavengers and their dependants aged 18 years and above, for setting up A Sanitary Marts (SM) is a one-stop-shop for all things for sanitation
• Loan Based Schemes For Safai Karamchari - Swachhta Udyami Yojana – Swachhta Se Sampannta Ki Aur (Central · loan · Ministry Of Social Justice and Empowerment)
  A general term loan scheme by the Ministry of Social justice and Empowerment for Safai Karamchari, Manual Scavengers and their dependants aged 18 years and above for procurement of sanitation-related vehicles.
• Mahila Samriddhi Yojana (Central · loan · Ministry Of Social Justice and Empowerment)
  This is a micro-financing programme aiming towards the empowerment of women from underprivileged backgrounds or economically backward areas. Through this scheme, these women can apply for a loan at a nominal interest rate to fulfil their dreams and goals and gain financial independence.
• Micro Finance Scheme of NMDFC (Central · loan · Ministry Of Minority Affairs)
  Under the scheme, an amount of Rs. 1 lakh under credit Line-1 & upto Rs. 1.5 lakh under Credit Line-2 is extended to each member of SHG (belong to Minority communities) at interest rate of 7% & 10% respectively. Concession of 2% is extended to women beneficiaries under Credit Line-2.
• New Swarnima Scheme For Women (Central · subsidy · Ministry Of Social Justice and Empowerment)
  A term loan scheme by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for women entrepreneurs from backward classes to obtain a loan of up to ₹2,00,000/- @ 5% per annum, thereby providing them social & financial security.
• Stand-Up India (Central · loan · Ministry Of Finance)
  A scheme by Ministry of Finance for financing SC/ST and Women Entrepreneurs by facilitating bank loans for setting up a greenfield project Enterprise in manufacturing, services, trading sector and activities allied to agriculture.
• Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes (Central · loan · Ministry Of Social Justice and Empowerment)
  The scheme aims to promote entrepreneurship among Scheduled Caste individuals by providing concessional finance. Benefits include investment ranging from ₹10,00,000/- to ₹15,00,00,000/- as debt or equity for eligible Private Limited or Public Limited companies.
• "Capital Investment Subsidy (for New and Existing Industries)" under "Motivation of Entrepreneurs to Start Industries and Fiscal Assistance to Capital Intensive Industries" (State · subsidy)
  Through "Capital Investment Subsidy (for New and Existing Industries)", the enterprises & entrepreneurs are provided subsidies of upto 45% on the investments made on land, buildings, plants and machinery. The applications are accepted offline in the prescribed form available on the Official website.
• "Capital Investment Subsidy: 5% Additional Capital Investment Subsidy to Karaikal Region" under "Motivation of Entrepreneurs to Start Industries and Fiscal Assistance to Industries" (State · subsidy)
  The "Capital Investment Subsidy: 5% Additional Capital Investment Subsidy to Karaikal Region" is a Component of the "Motivation of Entrepreneurs to Start Industries and Fiscal Assistance to Industries" Scheme by the Department of Industrial Development (Industries and Commerce), UT of Puducherry.
• "Capital Investment Subsidy: SC/ST/Women Entrepreneurs" Component of the "Motivation of Entrepreneurs to Start Industries and Fiscal Assistance to Industries" Scheme (State · subsidy)
  "Capital Investment Subsidy: SC/ST/Women Entrepreneurs" is a scheme by the Department of Industrial Development (Industries and Commerce), Union Territory of Puducherry. The department extends subsidies for the investments made on land, buildings, plants & machinery @ 25%.
• "Rent Subsidy" under "Motivation of Entrepreneurs to Start Industries and Fiscal Assistance to Industries" (State · subsidy)
  This scheme aims to support SC/ST and women entrepreneurs who have initiated production on or after 27-3-2002 in a rented building. It provides rent subsidy for the first five years from the commencement of commercial production on a tapering basis, with a max ceiling of ₹5,000 per month.

The most active ministries in this category are Ministry Of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry Of Commerce And Industry, Ministry Of Minority Affairs, Ministry Of Finance.

States with the highest number of dedicated state-government schemes in this category are Gujarat, Haryana, Puducherry, Goa, All, Kerala, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu.

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