NEW DELHI/CHANDIGARH, JULY 28 — The Union Government sanctioned 1,418 loans to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe entrepreneurs in Punjab under the Stand-Up India scheme between fiscal years 2021-22 and 2024-25. Union Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Shobha Karandlaje stated in a written reply in Rajya Sabha that the scheme facilitates bank credit between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 crore to support greenfield enterprises across manufacturing, trading, service, and agricultural sectors.
Responding to queries raised by Member of Parliament Satnam Singh Sandhu during the ongoing Parliamentary session, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje affirmed that loan approvals for SC/ST beneficiaries in Punjab saw a steady rise over the four-year period.
“153 loans were sanctioned to SC/ST entrepreneurs in 2021-22, 321 in 2022-23, 327 in 2023-24, and 617 SC/ST beneficiaries in 2024-25,” Karandlaje stated, adding that the targeted scheme remained operational through March 2025.
Addressing credit guarantee frameworks for micro and small enterprises, the Union Minister maintained that dedicated support mechanisms remain active for underrepresented business leaders. “There is a provision of enhanced guarantee coverage up to 85 percent and 10 percent concession in guarantee fees for MSEs led by SC/ST entrepreneurs. Further, banks are being sensitised through various meetings conducted by State Level Bankers’ Committees to facilitate collateral-free loans for SC/ST startups,” Karandlaje declared.
The Union Minister affirmed that financial inclusion programs have been expanded across rural Punjab through Financial Literacy Centers, Centers for Financial Literacy, and local bank branches. During the 2025-26 period, 34,98 rural branches and affiliated centers organized 37,528 outdoor camps, reaching over 6.35 lakh participants.
Commenting on the implementation data, MP Satnam Singh Sandhu stated that the initiative played a key role in making credit accessible to first-time entrepreneurs.
“Stand-Up India scheme has funded the unfunded by ensuring availability of loans to SC/ST and women entrepreneurs. Over 5,710 loans have been extended in Punjab under this scheme, with 1,418 sanctioned to SC/ST entrepreneurs, accounting for nearly 25 percent of total loans in the state,” Sandhu maintained, adding that the framework provided crucial support for employment generation and economic growth.
