Stand Up India Loan Status Check 2026: SC, ST and Women Entrepreneurs

Reviewed on: 2026-06-19.

Q: What does the Stand Up India scheme do?

Stand Up India facilitates bank loans between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 crore to at least one Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) borrower and at least one woman borrower per bank branch of every Scheduled Commercial Bank across India. The goal is to support those borrowers in setting up a greenfield enterprise.

The scheme was launched on 5 April 2016 and is administered by the Department of Financial Services (DFS) under the Ministry of Finance. The dedicated portal standupmitra.in is managed by the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).

Q: What types of enterprises are covered?

A greenfield enterprise under Stand Up India can operate in any of these sectors:

• Manufacturing
• Services
• Trading
• Activities allied to agriculture, such as pisciculture, beekeeping, poultry, livestock rearing, dairy, fishery, agriclinic and agribusiness centres, and food and agro-processing (but excluding crop loans and land improvement works such as canals, irrigation, and wells)

The Budget speech for FY 2021-22 added the agri-allied activities category to the original three sectors.

Q: Who qualifies for a Stand Up India loan?

You are eligible if you meet all four conditions:

1. You are an SC or ST individual, or a woman entrepreneur, and you are above 18 years of age.
2. The enterprise you are proposing is a greenfield project, meaning it is your first venture in manufacturing, services, trading, or agri-allied activities.
3. If you are applying through a non-individual enterprise such as a company or partnership firm, at least 51% of the shareholding and controlling stake must be held by an SC, ST, or woman entrepreneur.
4. You are not currently in default to any bank or financial institution.

Q: I already run a business. Can I still apply?

No. The greenfield condition is strict. The scheme is specifically for your first venture in the relevant sector. If you already have a business in manufacturing, services, trading, or agri-allied activities, you do not qualify under Stand Up India for that same sector.

Q: What is the loan amount and structure?

The loan is a composite loan covering both a term loan and a working capital component. The total composite loan is between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 crore.

The scheme finances up to 85% of the project cost. The remaining 15% is the margin money requirement, which can be met by:

• Converging with eligible Central or State Government schemes
• Your own contribution of a minimum of 10% of the project cost

Q: What interest rate applies?

The interest rate is the lowest applicable rate of the bank for that category (rating category), and it cannot exceed MCLR plus 3% plus the tenor premium. In practice, you should ask your bank to show you the calculation in writing, as the MCLR varies by bank and by loan tenor.

Q: How long do I have to repay?

The repayment period is a maximum of 7 years. You also get a moratorium of up to 18 months before repayment begins, which gives you time to stabilise the enterprise before EMIs start.

Q: Is collateral required?

The Government of India has set up the Credit Guarantee Fund for Stand Up India (CGFSI) to provide collateral-free coverage on these loans. Whether collateral is waived in your specific case depends on the bank's assessment and the CGFSI cover, so confirm this directly with your lending branch.

Q: What are the three ways to access the scheme?

According to official scheme guidelines, you can access Stand Up India through any of these three routes:

1. Directly at the bank branch: Walk into any branch of a Scheduled Commercial Bank and ask for a Stand Up India loan. Every branch is mandated to facilitate at least one SC or ST loan and at least one women's loan per branch.
2. Through the Stand Up India portal: Visit standupmitra.in, register, fill your loan application, and the portal connects you to a nearby bank. This route also gives you access to handholding agencies for training, mentoring, and project report preparation.
3. Through the Lead District Manager (LDM): Every district has a Lead District Manager who coordinates credit flow. You can approach the LDM's office to be directed to the right bank branch.

You can also apply through jansamarth.in, the government's central portal for scheme-linked loans, which connects you to multiple lenders.

Q: What handholding support is available?

The standupmitra.in portal connects applicants to a network of over 8,000 handholding agencies across India, including Rural Self-Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs), vocational training centres, MSME Development Institutions, District Industries Centres, and women entrepreneurial associations. These agencies assist with skill development, project report preparation, application filling, and work shed and utility support.

Q: Where do I track my Stand Up India loan application?

Track your application through the official portal standupmitra.in, which was built specifically to manage Stand Up India applications. The portal allows you to register, submit your application, and monitor its progress as it moves through the bank's appraisal process.

You can also track applications submitted via jansamarth.in through that portal's dashboard using your registered mobile number.

Q: My portal shows no update for weeks. What should I do?

Follow this escalation path:

• First: Contact the branch manager of the bank where your application was submitted. Ask for a written status update and a timeline.
• Second: Approach the Lead District Manager (LDM) for your district, who oversees credit coordination for all Stand Up India accounts in the area.
• Third: Write to SIDBI, which administers the standupmitra.in portal and monitors scheme implementation.
• Fourth: Contact the Department of Financial Services under the Ministry of Finance if the bank and SIDBI are unresponsive.

If your application was rejected, the bank must give you written reasons. Keep that in writing for any escalation or grievance.

Q: Can I also apply through Udyami Mitra?

Yes. The udyamimitra.in portal, also run by SIDBI, lists Stand Up India loans and can route your application to lenders. It is an additional access point alongside standupmitra.in and jansamarth.in.

Q: Can I combine Stand Up India with other registrations?

Yes, and it is often advisable. Consider these steps alongside your Stand Up India application:

• Udyam registration establishes your MSME identity and may open additional benefits and preference in government procurement.
• If you are in the informal micro-enterprise sector and the loan amount needed is smaller, MUDRA loans under Shishu, Kishore, or Tarun categories may be a better fit.
• Street vendors looking for smaller working capital can explore PM SVANidhi.
• Artisans in traditional trades may also qualify under PM Vishwakarma.

If your Aadhaar-linked details need updating before you apply, check Aadhaar status first, as banks rely on Aadhaar-based KYC.

File an RTI to: the lending bank's nodal officer; escalate to SIDBI or the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance

Under the Right to Information Act, 2005, you can ask:

• What is the current status of my loan application bearing reference number [X] submitted on [date]?
• On what date was my application forwarded to the credit appraisal team, and what is the expected decision timeline?
• If my application was rejected or kept pending, what are the specific reasons?
• How many Stand Up India loans has this branch sanctioned to SC, ST, and women borrowers in the current financial year?
• What is the process for lodging a grievance if a loan is wrongly rejected?

→ Use our free AI RTI Drafter to generate a complete Section 6(1) application.

No. The scheme funds greenfield ventures only, meaning your first-time enterprise in manufacturing, services, trading, or allied agriculture. An already-running unit does not qualify.

Yes. For a non-individual enterprise, at least 51 per cent of the shareholding and controlling stake must be held by an SC, ST, or woman entrepreneur.

The loan is backed by the credit guarantee cover for Stand Up India, so a separate property pledge may not be required. Confirm the exact security terms with your lending branch.

There is no single fixed timeline, as it varies by bank and project. Track it on the portal and, if it stalls, follow up in writing or file an RTI for the status and reasons.

Ask the branch for the rejection reasons in writing, correct the gap, and either reapply or approach another lender through standupmitra.in or jansamarth.in. An RTI can compel the official reasons if the branch stays silent.

• udyamimitra.in - Loan range Rs 10 lakh to Rs 1 crore confirmed
• PIB FAQ on Stand Up India Scheme, April 2022 - eligibility, interest rate, repayment, moratorium, access routes
• PIB Factsheet on Stand Up India Scheme, April 2022 - composite loan structure, margin money, CGFSI, handholding network
• standupmitra.in - official Stand Up India portal (SIDBI)
• jansamarth.in - JanSamarth national portal for scheme-linked loans

By Dr. Shrawan Kumar Pathak