Under the Stand-Up India Scheme launched by the Government of India, which of the following categories of beneficiaries are specifically targeted for the promotion of entrepreneurship?

Solution

Objective of the Scheme The Stand-Up India Scheme was launched on April 5, 2016, with the primary objective of promoting entrepreneurship at the grassroots level. It specifically targets segments of the population that have traditionally faced barriers in accessing formal credit: Scheduled Castes (SC) , Scheduled Tribes (ST) , and Women .   Key Features

• Target Group: The scheme mandates every bank branch of all Scheduled Commercial Banks to facilitate loans to at least one SC or ST borrower and at least one Woman borrower per branch.
• Loan Amount: The scheme provides composite loans (including term loans and working capital) between ₹10 lakh and ₹1 crore .
• Greenfield Projects: Loans are only available for Greenfield Enterprises . This means the venture must be the first-time business of the beneficiary in the manufacturing, services, or trading sectors (including activities allied to agriculture).
• Shareholding Requirement: In the case of non-individual enterprises (like companies or partnerships), at least 51% of the shareholding and controlling stake must be held by an SC/ST or a Woman entrepreneur.

• Option A & D: While the government has other schemes for "Unorganized Labourers" (like PMSYM) and "Landless Labourers," the Stand-Up India scheme is specifically an entrepreneurship/loan scheme for business setup, not a direct benefit scheme for labourers.
• Option C: Small and marginal farmers are supported under schemes like PM-KISAN , but they are not the primary focus of the Stand-Up India credit facility unless they are setting up a "greenfield" agri-allied business and belong to the SC/ST/Women categories.