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Economy • India

Rs 16,712 cr loan sanctioned to women under ‘Stand Up India’ scheme, Says Finance Ministry

Ahead of the International Women’s Day on March 8, “Women account for over 81 per cent of the total beneficiaries under the ‘Stand Up India’ scheme with loans worth Rs 16,712 crore sanctioned for them in nearly 4 years time”. The finance ministry asserted on March 03.

In a statement the ministry stated that, “As on February 17, 2020, more than 81 per cent account holders under Stand Up India Scheme are women. Further it said that, 73,155 accounts have been opened for women. Rs 16,712.72 crore has been sanctioned for women account holders and Rs 9,106.13 crore has been disbursed for women account holders,”.

The Ministry, “As on February 19, 2020, 20.33 crore beneficiaries out of 38.13 crore PMJDY beneficiaries are women which amounts to 53 per cent,”. Further, In the past six years, the finance ministry has launched several schemes which have special provisions for empowerment of women. Such schemes have financially empowered women to lead a better life and chase their dreams of being an entrepreneur,” the ministry asserted.

Significantly, As per the Stand Up India scheme was launched on April 5, 2016, to facilitate bank loans between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 crore to at least one Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) borrower and at least one woman borrower per bank branch of Scheduled Commercial Banks for setting up a greenfield enterprise, PTI News agency attributed.

Besides, under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), 70 per cent of the total loan borrowers are women. PMMY was launched on April 8, 2015 for providing loans up to Rs 10 lakh to the non-corporate, non-farm small/micro enterprises. These Mudra loans are given by commercial Banks, RRBs, small finance banks, MFIs and NBFCs, It said in a statement.

Moreover, Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) was launched on August 28, 2014. The scheme envisages universal access to banking facilities with at least one basic banking account for every adult. It has 38.13 crore beneficiaries.

In the social sector scheme Atal Pension Yojana (APY), launched on May 9, 2015, more than 93 lakh subscribers (43 per cent) out of a total of around 2.15 crore subscribers are women. The scheme offers guaranteed minimum monthly pension of Rs 1,000 – Rs 5,000 at the age of 60 years.

The Ministry, “As on January 31, 2020, more than 22.53 crore loans have been sanctioned since launch of the scheme. Out of this, more than 15.75 crore loans extended to women, thereby 70 per cent of the total loan borrowers are women,” It remarked in a statement.

(Author: Trilok Singh is with CEO here).

REF: Ministry of Finance and PTI News Agency.

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About the author

Trilok Singh

Mr. Trilok Kumar Singh is a media entrepreneur, researcher, and academic associated with K.R. Mangalam University and several digital platforms. Mr. Singh is presently teaching in the School of Emerging Media and Creator Economy (SEMCE) at K.R. Mangalam University (KRMU), Gurugram, while pursuing a Ph.D. in Journalism and Mass Communication at the same university.​ He holds a master’s degree in Political Science from Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, and a master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Galigotias University, along with a postgraduate diploma in Broadcast Journalism from International School of Journalism and Mass Communication, News 24 Campus.

He has built multiple digital ventures in news and social media, including Youth Darpan Media, IASmind.com, Post AtoZ Social Media, Micro BlogIN, and the International Journal of Journalism and Mass Communication (IJJMC), where he serves in leadership roles. His platforms and initiatives have been highlighted by various media outlets, and he has several years of experience in the digital media ecosystem as a founder and CEO. Mr. Singh has written extensively on sustainability, climate change, international relations, foreign policy, Indian politics, governance, and contemporary issues, contributing hundreds of articles and opinion pieces to Indian and global digital platforms. In addition, he has authored multiple journal articles and book chapters, further strengthening his academic and professional contributions to media and communication studies.

In 2025, Trilok Singh published a research article titled “Navigating Media Regulation and Censorship in Over‑the‑Top Platforms” and six book chapters: “Sustainable Development Cooperation Under India’s G20 Presidency,” “Digital Pathways to Sustainability: Assessing the Role and Impact of OTT Platforms in Advancing the United Nations SDGs,” and “The Role of Digital Media in Promoting Sustainable Business Practices in Delhi NCR,” among others. He also received two Best Research Paper Presenter awards at one international and one national conference in recognition of this work.