Women Entrepreneurship Support Schemes

Fostering Economic Independence Through Female Enterprise

Women-led enterprises are powerful catalysts for economic growth, employment generation, and social transformation in India. However, female founders frequently encounter structural barriers: lack of collateral property registered in their own names, restricted access to formal institutional credit, and limited access to commercial business networks. To remove these bottlenecks, the Government of India operates dedicated collateral-free credit programs, enhanced capital subsidies, and incubation networks tailored specifically for aspiring and existing women entrepreneurs.

Key Central Government Funding Initiatives

1. Stand-Up India Scheme

• Target Beneficiaries: Women entrepreneurs (across all categories) and SC/ST individuals establishing greenfield (new) enterprises in manufacturing, services, agri-allied, or trading sectors.
• Loan Quantum: Bank loans ranging from ₹10 Lakh to ₹1 Crore.
• Collateral Relief: Loans are backed by the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Stand-Up India (CGSSI); no physical collateral is required beyond primary hypothecation of business assets.
• Equity Mandate: In non-individual enterprises, at least 51% of the shareholding and controlling stake must be held by a woman entrepreneur.

2. Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY)

Mudra provides collateral-free micro-credit for non-corporate, non-farm small and micro enterprises, offering special interest concessions (up to 0.25% discount) for women borrowers (Mahila Uddyami):

3. Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP)

A credit-linked capital subsidy scheme administered by KVIC. Women entrepreneurs qualify for Special Category Status, receiving significantly higher government capital subsidies:

• Urban Areas: 25% capital subsidy on project cost (beneficiary margin only 5%).
• Rural Areas: 35% capital subsidy on project cost (beneficiary margin only 5%).
• Project Cost Ceilings: Up to ₹50 Lakh for manufacturing units and ₹20 Lakh for service units.

NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP)

Beyond capital loans, the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (wep.gov.in) acts as a comprehensive ecosystem providing free incubation mentorship, legal compliance assistance, digital marketing training, and market linkages with public procurement portals like Government e-Marketplace (GeM).