Extension Of Stand-up India Scheme Till 2031 A Boon For Punjab’s Dalit And Women Entrepreneurs: Ashwani Sharma

Nov12,2026 | Jagrati Lahar Bureau | Pathankot

With India’s highest SC population share at 31.94%, Punjab stands to gain immensely; 5,710 accounts already sanctioned in the state

Former Punjab BJP State President Ashwani Sharma today warmly welcomed the Union Cabinet’s decision, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to extend the ‘Stand-Up India’ scheme for another five years until March 31, 2031. Sharma noted that backed by a ₹4,111 crore credit guarantee corpus, this decision will deliver maximum benefit to Punjab, which has the highest Scheduled Caste (SC) population share in the country at 31.94% (nearly 32%) as per the 2011 Census.

"Collateral-Free Loans from ₹10 Lakh to ₹1 Crore"
In a statement, Sharma explained that launched in April 2016, the scheme will empower an additional 2.5 lakh SC, ST, and women entrepreneurs nationwide over the next five years to become self-reliant. Under the initiative, loans ranging from ₹10 lakh to ₹1 crore (covering up to 85% of project cost) are provided for greenfield enterprises across manufacturing, services, trading, and agri-allied sectors. With the Centre extending an 85% credit guarantee at a nominal fee of just 0.50%, banking risk has dropped substantially, paving the way for Dalit and women entrepreneurs to launch businesses without heavy collateral.

"5,710 Accounts Sanctioned in Punjab; Women and Dalits Turning Job Creators"
Citing official data tabled in Parliament, Sharma highlighted the grassroots transformation triggered by the scheme in Punjab. Between April 2020 and March 2025, a total of 5,710 loan accounts were sanctioned in the state, including direct loans to 1,418 SC/ST entrepreneurs (with 617 beneficiaries added in 2024–25 alone).

Nationally, loans exceeding ₹62,790 crore have been sanctioned across over 2.75 lakh accounts, with women accounting for more than 80% of all beneficiaries. Calling upon Punjab’s youth, Dalit community, and women to seize this opportunity and transition from job seekers to job creators, Sharma urged banks to organize special district-level camps to ensure hassle-free loan disbursals.