SA5494

Cent Kalyani Scheme

6.4/10

The Cent Kalyani Scheme, managed by the Central Bank of India, provides financial support to new and existing women entrepreneurs engaged in micro and small enterprises across various sectors, including manufacturing and services. Eligible participants can access term loans, working capital facilities, and concessional interest rates, with a maximum financing limit of Rs. 100 lakhs.

Central

States / UT: All India

Ministry / nodal: Central Bank of India

Scheme for: Startups

Scheme profile

DBT (direct benefit transfer): No

Target beneficiaries: Startups

Tags: startups, Women Entrepreneuship, Credit Benefit

Details

Brief

Cent-Kalyani is an initiative by the Central Bank of India aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs and businesses. This initiative is launched to encourage Women Entrepreneurs to start new projects or expand and modernize the existing unit.

Eligibility

  • New as well as Existing Women entrepreneurs for her Micro/Small enterprise ( as defined under MSME Act- 2006) .i.e engaged in manufacturing and service activity for eg. Handloom weaving Handicraft, Food-Processing, Garment making, etc. Professionals & Self-employed women - Doctors, Chartered Accountants, and Engineers or trained in Art or Craft, etc.
  • Health/Beauty/clinics/Dieticians/Fashion Designing Beauty Parlors. Small Business-Small/lunch/canteen, mobile restaurant, circulating/ library/tailoring/Day Creaches for children, Tailoring/Typing/STD/Xerox booth, etc.Transport Operators- Three wheelers/Four wheelers. (Retail Trade/Education and Training Institute/Self Help Group not eligible)

Fund / quantum

  • QUANTUM OF FINANCE: Maximum Rs. 100 Lacs.
  • MARGIN: 20%
  • RATE OF INTEREST: Concession in Rate of interest - Loan up to Rs. 10 Lacs - MCLR + 0.25% Loan above Rs. 10 Lacs and up to Rs.100 Lacs - MCLR + 0.50% Additional Interest concession of 0.25% if an account is rated by an external agency.

Benefit tags

  • Credit Benefit

Notes

  • The scheme aims to encourage Women Entrepreneurs to start new projects or expand/modernize the existing unit. New as well as Existing Women entrepreneurs for their Micro / Small enterprises i.e engaged in manufacturing and service activity eg. Handloom weaving Handicraft, Professionals & Self-employed women - Doctors, Chartered Accountants, and Engineers or trained in Art or Craft, etc. Target Group-New, as well as Existing Women entrepreneurs for her Micro / Small enterprise ( as defined under MSME Act- 2006), .i.e engaged in manufacturing and service activity for eg. Handloom weaving Handicraft, Food-Processing, Garment making, etc., etc. Professionals & Self-employed women - Doctors, Chartered Accountants, and Engineers or trained in Art or Craft, etc. Health /Beauty clinics/Dieticians/Fashion Designing Beauty Parlors.Small Business-Small lunch/canteen, mobile restaurant, circulating library/ tailoring /Day Creaches for children, Tailoring, Typing / STD/Xerox booth etc.Transport Operators- Three wheeler /Four wheeler. (Retail Trade/ Education and training Institute/ Self Help Group not eligible)

Benefits

  • - Term Loan Fund Based Working capital Facility - Overdraft/Cash/Credit Non-Fund Based Working Capital - Letter of Credit/ Letter Of Guarantee etc
  • For specific details about the initiative and its benefits, please visit the official website
  • Term Loan Fund Based Working capital Facility - Overdraft/Cash/Credit Non-Fund Based Working Capital - Letter of Credit/ Letter Of Guarantee etc
  • For specific details about the initiative and its benefits, please visit the official website.

Eligibility

  • New as well as Existing Women entrepreneurs for her Micro/Small enterprise ( as defined under MSME Act- 2006) .i.e engaged in manufacturing and service activity for eg. Handloom weaving Handicraft, Food-Processing, Garment making, etc. Professionals & Self-employed women - Doctors, Chartered Accountants, and Engineers or trained in Art or Craft, etc.

  • Health/Beauty/clinics/Dieticians/Fashion Designing Beauty Parlors. Small Business-Small/lunch/canteen, mobile restaurant, circulating/ library/tailoring/Day Creaches for children, Tailoring/Typing/STD/Xerox booth, etc.Transport Operators- Three wheelers/Four wheelers. (Retail Trade/Education and Training Institute/Self Help Group not eligible)

  • QUANTUM OF FINANCE: Maximum Rs. 100 Lacs.

  • MARGIN: 20%

  • RATE OF INTEREST: Concession in Rate of interest - Loan up to Rs. 10 Lacs - MCLR + 0.25% Loan above Rs. 10 Lacs and up to Rs.100 Lacs - MCLR + 0.50% Additional Interest concession of 0.25% if an account is rated by an external agency.

How useful is this scheme?

Public benefit analysis

A practical look at this scheme for citizens

AI-generated insights showing how useful, accessible, and practical this scheme may be — combining deterministic scoring rules with a public-policy LLM analyst.

6.4
/ 10
Public Benefit Score
Accessibility 6.0/10 Moderate
Rural usefulness 5.0/10 Moderate
Application complexity 3.0/10 Good
Financial impact 5.0/10 Moderate
Literacy barrier 5.0/10 Moderate
Women inclusivity 10.0/10 Good
Awareness 7.0/10 Good
Implementation reliability 7.0/10 Good
Bigger shape means a better fit for citizens
  • Accessibility6.0
  • Financial impact5.0
  • Rural utility5.0
  • Awareness7.0
  • Simplicity7.0
  • Inclusivity10.0

What problem does this scheme solve?

The Cent Kalyani Scheme aims to empower women entrepreneurs by providing financial support for micro and small enterprises.

Key challenges addressed

  • Access to credit for women entrepreneurs
  • Encouragement for women to start or expand businesses

Most beneficial for

  • Women entrepreneurs in micro and small enterprises

Likely challenges

  • Complexity in application process for semi-literate individuals
  • Digital dependency may limit access for some

Practical insights for citizens

The scheme is practical but may require additional support for rural applicants.

Rural challenges

  • Limited access to digital resources
  • Lack of awareness about the scheme

Digital challenges

  • High digital dependency may exclude some applicants

Implementation bottlenecks

  • Potential delays in loan processing

Awareness challenges

  • Low awareness among rural women entrepreneurs

Application analysis

Application mode
Online portal
Documents burden
Minimal documentation required
Verification complexity
Moderate
Office dependency
Low
DBT dependency
No
CSC support
Limited
Estimated citizen effort
Moderate effort required to complete application

Estimated beneficiary reach

  • Rural / urban reach Moderate
  • Gender reach Female
  • Target income group Low to middle-income women entrepreneurs
  • Occupation reach Micro and small enterprises

Benefit analysis

Benefit type
Financial support through loans
Benefit frequency
One-time loan disbursement
Benefit practicality
Practical for eligible women entrepreneurs
Financial meaningfulness
Highly meaningful due to substantial loan amounts
Long-term impact
Positive impact on women's entrepreneurship and economic empowerment

Plain-language guidance

The Cent Kalyani Scheme helps women start or grow their small businesses by providing loans. It is designed for women entrepreneurs in various sectors.

Who should apply
Women entrepreneurs looking for financial support for their businesses.
Who may struggle
Semi-literate women and those without digital access may find it challenging.
Best application route
Apply via the official online portal.

This intelligence section is generated by an AI policy analyst combined with rule-based scoring. Scores and narrative are estimates derived from the publicly available scheme information shown on this page; actual experience may vary by state, district, and department. Always confirm details on the official portal before you apply.

Application Process

Online / portal

Official application / information link: https://www.centralbankofindia.co.in/en/Cent_Kalyani

Source listing: https://www.startupindia.gov.in/content/sih/en/government-schemes.html

References

Startup India — Central government schemes for startups
https://www.startupindia.gov.in/content/sih/en/government-schemes.html
Application / official link
https://www.centralbankofindia.co.in/en/Cent_Kalyani

Apply

Apply now

Opens the official application or programme portal in a new tab. If in doubt, confirm details on the ministry site.

Frequently asked questions

What is the purpose of Cent Kalyani Scheme?
Cent Kalyani Scheme is a government welfare initiative designed to support Startups, Startups through benefits related to Startups & entrepreneurship, financial assistance, subsidies, social welfare, healthcare, education, or livelihood support.
Who can apply for Cent Kalyani Scheme?
Eligibility for Cent Kalyani Scheme may depend on factors such as income category, age, gender, occupation, state of residence, social category, and government-defined beneficiary criteria.
What benefits are offered under Cent Kalyani Scheme?
Benefits under Cent Kalyani Scheme may include financial assistance, subsidies, scholarships, insurance support, healthcare benefits, pension support, training assistance, or welfare services depending on the scheme guidelines.
Which department manages Cent Kalyani Scheme?
Cent Kalyani Scheme is managed by Central Bank of India and may be implemented through district offices, online portals, CSC centres, banks, or authorised government agencies.
Can users apply online for Cent Kalyani Scheme?
Yes, eligible applicants may be able to apply online for Cent Kalyani Scheme through official government portals, authorised service centres, or digital application systems depending on the implementation process.
Is Aadhaar mandatory for Cent Kalyani Scheme?
Many government schemes may require Aadhaar verification, identity proof, or linked bank account details for beneficiary validation and direct benefit transfer processing.
Where can users apply for Cent Kalyani Scheme?
Applications for Cent Kalyani Scheme may be submitted through government departments, official scheme portals, CSC centres, district offices, welfare departments, or authorised service centres.
What documents may be required for Cent Kalyani Scheme?
Applicants may need Aadhaar card, income certificate, residence proof, bank account details, caste certificate, photographs, educational records, or occupation-related documents depending on scheme eligibility requirements.
Is Cent Kalyani Scheme a central government scheme?
Yes, Cent Kalyani Scheme is a central government welfare initiative that may be implemented across multiple states through authorised departments and agencies.
Is Cent Kalyani Scheme only for women beneficiaries?
Cent Kalyani Scheme is primarily intended to support eligible women beneficiaries through welfare assistance, financial support, skill development, healthcare, or social security initiatives.
Does Cent Kalyani Scheme support self-employment or financial assistance for women?
Depending on scheme guidelines, Cent Kalyani Scheme may provide loans, subsidies, training support, self-employment assistance, or financial welfare benefits for women.
Does Cent Kalyani Scheme provide business loan or startup assistance?
Cent Kalyani Scheme may support entrepreneurs, startups, self-employed individuals, MSMEs, or small businesses through financial assistance, subsidies, credit support, or training initiatives.
Is collateral required under Cent Kalyani Scheme?
Collateral requirements may vary depending on the loan amount, implementing agency, financial institution, and government subsidy structure.
Can CSC centres help users apply for Cent Kalyani Scheme?
Many government schemes may be accessible through nearby CSC centres, authorised digital service centres, or welfare facilitation offices.
How can users check the latest updates for Cent Kalyani Scheme?
Users should verify official notifications, department announcements, application deadlines, and eligibility updates through authorised government portals or implementing agencies.
Can beneficiaries track application status for Cent Kalyani Scheme?
Certain schemes may provide online application tracking, beneficiary verification systems, or status-check facilities through official portals.
Where can users get help for Cent Kalyani Scheme in All India?
Users in All India may seek assistance through CSC centres, district welfare offices, government departments, agriculture offices, social welfare departments, or authorised facilitation centres.
Which nearby public services may help with Cent Kalyani Scheme applications?
Depending on the scheme, users may require support from Aadhaar centres, CSC centres, banks, hospitals, post offices, or government welfare offices for document verification and application assistance.