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GS2 · Social justice

Stand-Up India: ₹29,000 crore to SC/ST and women

1 min readWelfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections
Battle IAS current affairs title card: Stand-Up India: ₹29,000 crore to SC/ST and women (GS2 · Social justice, 22 July 2025)

What happened

  • Stand-Up India (launched 5 April 2016) gives bank loans of ₹10 lakh-₹1 crore to at least one SC/ST and one woman borrower per branch for greenfield units [PIB].
  • Nearly ₹29,000 crore was sanctioned from April 2022 to March 2025 [PIB].

Background

  • Repayment is over 7 years with up to 18 months’ moratorium [PIB].

Why it matters

  • Credit plus handholding is needed for first-generation entrepreneurs.

How to use this in Mains

GS-II Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections

  1. As per PIB (2025-07-22): stand-Up India (launched 5 April 2016) gives bank loans of ₹10 lakh-₹1 crore to at least one SC/ST and one woman borrower per branch for greenfield units.
  2. Credit plus handholding is needed for first-generation entrepreneurs.
Quotable data point

Nearly ₹29,000 crore was sanctioned from April 2022 to March 2025.

PIB: Stand-Up India, 22 Jul 2025

Exam angle

UPSC

Prelims: Stand-Up India.

Practice MCQs

Original practice questions (not PYQs).

Practice · UPSC

Stand-Up India loan range

Answer (b) & explanation

PIB.

Go deeper

ExplainerSocial Justice (GS-II): Constitutional Basis, Vulnerable Sections, Welfare Schemes, Statutory Bodies and Implementation Gaps (UPSC Notes)

Official source: PIB: Stand-Up India, 22 Jul 2025

facts from cited sources only; faculty review pending