Term loan scheme for first-time women, SC and ST entrepreneurs (Budget 2025-26) First-time entrepreneur term loans
A scheme announced in Budget 2025-26 to give term loans of up to ₹2 crore to 5 lakh first-time women, SC and ST entrepreneurs over five years. Not yet open.
Last updated on
- Cost to apply
- Not known yet
- Status
- Announced, not open yet
- Run by
- Ministry of Finance
What you get
- Term loans up to ₹2 crore
- Online capacity building on entrepreneurship and management skills was promised alongside
Who can apply
- New businesses, or people about to start one.
- Micro and small enterprises.
- Only for women and SC and ST.
- The most on offer is ₹2 crore.
- First-time entrepreneurs
Worth knowing
Announced 1 February 2025, drawing on lessons from Stand-Up India. No scheme guidelines or launch found by 5 November 2026. In March 2026 the Finance Minister said a revamped Stand-Up India was being redrafted.
Where we found this
- PIB, Budget 2025-26 Fuelling MSME Expansion (external site) Official announcement
- All India Radio News, revamped Stand-Up India announced, 16 March 2026 (external site) Official announcement
An independent guide by The Company of Four, not a government website. Schemes change often, so check every detail on the official website before you apply. Links marked ↗ open external websites that we do not run, and we are not responsible for their content. Seen something out of date? Tell us and we will look into it.