CEGSSC

Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme For The Scheduled Castes

5.8/10

a loan scheme by the Ministry of Social justice and Empowerment for Entrepreneurs of Scheduled Caste Category.

Central Cash

States / UT: All India

Ministry / nodal: Ministry Of Social Justice and Empowerment

Scheme for: Infra

Scheme profile

DBT (direct benefit transfer): No

Scheme open date: 2014-07-18

Categories: Business & Entrepreneurship, Banking,Financial Services and Insurance, Social welfare & Empowerment

Sub-categories: Setting up / start-up / entrepreneurship, Loan, Citizen empowerment

Tags: Entrepreneur, Scheduled Caste, Companies, Societies

Details

To encourage and promote entrepreneurship among the Scheduled Castes who are oriented towards innovations and growth technologies by supporting the Bank and Financial Institutions [designated as Members Lending Institutions (MLIs) for the Scheme], in the form of Credit Enhancement Guarantee (minimum Rs.0.15 crore and maximum Rs.5.00 crore) against Working Capital Loans, Term Loans or Composite Terms Loans granted by (Money Lending Institutions) MLIs to SC entrepreneurs.

Objective of the Scheme

  1. The scheme is an initiative that is implemented throughout the nation to enhance entrepreneurship among the Scheduled Caste who are motivated for innovation and growth of the technologies.
  2. To promote the financial inclusion of SC entrepreneurs and motivate them towards further growth of SC communities.
  3. To facilitate the economic development of SC entrepreneurs.
  4. To develop direct and indirect employment generation for the SC population in India.

Sector covered under Scheme

The borrower engaged in primary/ service/ manufacturing sector would be considered for financial assistance by MLIs.

Type of Borrower

Registered companies/ registered partnership firms having more than 51% shareholdings with Scheduled Caste promoters for the past six months having management control of the SC entrepreneurs/ promoters.
Society registered under the Society Act and carrying business in accordance with the general policy of Bank/ FIs, having above 51% shareholdings with Scheduled Caste members at least for six months having management control of the SC entrepreneurs/ promoters.
Sole Proprietorship firms of SC entrepreneurs/ individual SC entrepreneurs.
The Scheduled Caste promoters of companies are given preference ahead of the Registered partnership firms and Registered Societies.
The Scheduled Caste promoter/ partner/ members will not dilute his/ her/ their shareholding/ equity during the currency of the loan.

Lock-in Period

The guarantee cover will have a lock-in period of 12 months from the date of last disbursement. No claim made under the guarantee shall be entertained by IFCI if the account becomes NPA within the lock in period.

Loan

The term ‘Loan’ shall cover Working Capital Loan, Term Loan / Composite Term Loan granted to SC Enterprises by (Money Lending Institutions) MLIs.

Guarantee Fee and obligation of IFCI on theGuarantee

  1. Cost to GOI:
    An upfront fee @1.5% flat (exclusive of applicable taxes) for initial set-up of thecorpus (the first such corpus announced being Rs.200 crore) for implementing the Scheme shall be paid by GOI to IFCI. Thereafter, annual maintenance fees @ 0.50% p.a. (exclusive of applicable taxes), shall be levied by IFCI on the aggregate Guarantee outstanding as on 31st March every year towards annual maintenance of the scheme, payable at the end of each year during the currency of the Scheme. The upfront fee of 1.50% shall be debited to NLA as soon as the Scheme becomes operational and the annual maintenance fees will be recovered by
    IFCI by debiting the NLA on 01st April every year on an annualised basis.

  2. Cost to MLIs:
    Guarantee fee would be levied by IFCI (rates as per following table) on the guarantee cover provided for the First Year and then annual renewal fees of the outstanding Guarantee commitment/obligation, towards renewal of the Guarantee to be paid by MLIs at the beginning of each Financial Year, i.e. 01st April every year. In the event of non-payment of renewal fee by May 31st of that year or any other specified date, the guarantee under the scheme shall not be available to the lending institution/MLI unless IFCI agrees for the continuance of guarantee and the lending institutions/MLI pays penal interest on the renewal fee due and unpaid, with effect from the subsequent June 01, at four percent over IFCI Bench Mark Rate, per annum, or at such rates specified by IFCI from time to time, for the period of delay.

  3. The Guarantee obligation shall cease to exist as soon as theunderlying loan is repaid or the Guarantee validity period has expired, whichever is earlier.


Benefits

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  • { "children": [ { "text": "Individual SC Entrepreneur would be eligible for a guarantee cover of a loan amount of upto Rs. 1.00 crore." } ] }
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  • { "children": [ { "text": "Maximum 7 years or repayment period whichever is earlier. However initially the loan shall be guaranteed for 1 year and renewed at yearly intervals subject to payment of annual renewal fee and satisfactory loan conduct and satisfactory loan review certification by MLIs at the time of renewal. " } ] }
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Amount of Guarantee

Minimum Rs.0.15 crore and maximum Rs.5.00 crore.

Individual SC Entrepreneur would be eligible for a guarantee cover of a loan amount of upto Rs. 1.00 crore.

Tenure of Guarantee

Maximum 7 years or repayment period whichever is earlier. However, initially the loan shall be guaranteed for 1 year and renewed at yearly intervals subject to payment of annual renewal fee and satisfactory loan conduct and satisfactory loan review certification by MLIs at the time of renewal.

Repeat Credit Enhancement

IIn case of satisfactory track record and post liquidation of the First facility under the scheme, the benefits of Guarantee under the scheme may be extended to such SC Entrepreneurs/Enterprises for repeat finance, in order to incentivize and inculcate healthy credit culture amongst the ultimate beneficiaries.

Eligibility

  1. Enterprises, projects/units being set up, promoted and run by Scheduled castes in primary, manufacturing and services sector ensuring asset creation out of the funds deployed in the unit, under any State/Central Government Subsidy/Grant Scheme shall be considered;
  2. Registered Companies and Societies/Registered Partnership Firms/Sole Proprietorship firms/Individual SC Entrepreneur having more than 51% shareholding by Scheduled Caste entrepreneurs/promoters/members with management control for the past 6 months;
  3. Credit Guarantee would be extended to startup SC Entrepreneur.
  4. Individual SC Entrepreneur would be eligible for a guarantee cover of a loan amount of upto Rs. 1.00 crore.
  5. Documentary proofs of being SC will have to be mandatorily submitted by the entrepreneurs/promoters/partners/society members/sole proprietorship firms/individual SC Entrepreneurat the time of submitting the proposals
  6. The Scheduled Caste promoter(s)/Partners/Society members shall not dilute their stake below 51% in the company/enterprise during the currency of the Loan.
  7. To be eligible for Guarantee Cover under the Scheme, the banks / FIs/ MLI‟s shall submit to IFCI a copy of the valid sanction letters/LoI issued to Scheduled Caste beneficiary/enterprise/company/firm/society/sole proprietorship firms/individuals. In order to save time, the information may also be submitted online on the web portal of CEGSSC. The indicative Appraisal Format and Due Diligence Module are provided in the Scheme as Annexure-III and Annexure-IV in the scheme guidelines respectively for facilitation. However, the MLIs who have already developed their own formats and modules are free to use their own appraisal formats/modules.

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.

5.8
/ 10
Public Benefit Score
Accessibility 5.0/10 Moderate
Rural usefulness 4.0/10 Moderate
Application complexity 4.0/10 Moderate
Financial impact 6.0/10 Moderate
Literacy barrier 6.0/10 Moderate
Women inclusivity 7.0/10 Good
Awareness 7.5/10 Good
Implementation reliability 7.0/10 Good
Bigger shape means a better fit for citizens
  • Accessibility5.0
  • Financial impact6.0
  • Rural utility4.0
  • Awareness7.5
  • Simplicity6.0
  • Inclusivity7.0

What problem does this scheme solve?

The scheme aims to enhance entrepreneurship among Scheduled Castes by providing credit guarantees for loans, promoting financial inclusion and economic development.

Key challenges addressed

  • Access to credit for Scheduled Caste entrepreneurs
  • Encouragement of entrepreneurship in marginalized communities

Most beneficial for

  • Scheduled Caste entrepreneurs
  • Small businesses in primary, manufacturing, and service sectors

Likely challenges

  • Complex application process for semi-literate individuals
  • Limited awareness among potential beneficiaries

Practical insights for citizens

The scheme has potential but may face challenges in reaching the intended beneficiaries effectively.

Rural challenges

  • Limited internet access in rural areas
  • Lack of awareness about the scheme

Digital challenges

  • Dependence on online applications may exclude non-digital users
  • Need for digital literacy to navigate the application process

Implementation bottlenecks

  • Potential delays in loan processing by banks
  • Complexity in understanding eligibility criteria

Awareness challenges

  • Low awareness among Scheduled Caste communities about the scheme

Application analysis

Application mode
Online portal
Documents burden
Moderate, requires proof of SC status and business details
Verification complexity
Moderate, involves bank and government verification
Office dependency
Low, primarily online
DBT dependency
No direct benefit transfer involved
CSC support
Possible but not specified
Estimated citizen effort
Moderate, requires filling forms and uploading documents

Estimated beneficiary reach

  • Rural / urban reach Moderate
  • Gender reach Inclusive
  • Occupation reach Entrepreneurs

Benefit analysis

Benefit type
Cash
Benefit frequency
One-time loan guarantee
Benefit practicality
Practical for eligible SC entrepreneurs seeking loans
Financial meaningfulness
Moderate, as the guarantee can facilitate significant loans
Long-term impact
Positive, as it can lead to business growth and employment generation

Plain-language guidance

This scheme helps Scheduled Caste entrepreneurs get loans by providing a guarantee to banks. It aims to promote business growth and financial inclusion.

Who should apply
Scheduled Caste entrepreneurs looking for financial support to start or grow their business.
Who may struggle
Individuals with limited digital skills or awareness about the scheme.
Best application route
Apply via the online portal with necessary documents.

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

Enter the details of the Enterprise details and other mandatory fields

Enter the details of the Borrower details and other mandatory fields.

The applicant will fill Loan and Bank details and other mandatory fields.

Save and Upload the requested documents

Submit the document

Clarifications

Additional points from the scheme information published on myScheme (not legal advice).

What types of sectors does the scheme cover?

The borrower engaged in Primary/Manufacturing/Service sector may be considered for financial assistance by MLIs.

I am a transgender, am I eligible for the course?

Yes, The scheme has no gender restrictions.

Which type of borrowers can be covered under the scheme?

Registered Companies and Societies/Registered Partnership Firms/Sole Proprietorship firms/Individual SC Entrepreneurs having more than 51% shareholding by Scheduled Caste entrepreneurs/promoters/members with management control for the past 6 months engaged in the manufacturing and services sector are cover under the Scheme.

Whether Individual and Sole Proprietorship firms are eligible to for the coverage under the scheme?

Yes, an individual is covered in the scheme.

Whether One Person company firms are eilgible to for the coverage under the scheme?

Yes, Registered companies including One Person Companies are eligible to be covered under the scheme.

Whether the borrower can approach any bank to get the coverage in the scheme?

No, Only the banks who have signed the undertaking for the scheme to become a member of the scheme known as Member Lending Institution (MLI) are allowed to get benefits of the scheme for their borrowers. The list of MLIs along with their Nodal Officers for the scheme is available on the IFCI's website, i.e. ifciltd.com and also on portal of the scheme, i.e. https://ifcicegssc.in

Whether working capital laon is eligible to be covered under the scheme?

Yes. The term "Loan" shall cover Working Capital Loan, Term Loan/Composite Term loan granted to SC Enterprises by MLIs is covered under the scheme

What is the collateral security required to be given for the loan availed under the scheme?

No Collateral security is required for the loan availed in the scheme.

Whether third party guarantee is required for the loan availed under the scheme?

No, Third party Guarantee is not required for the loan availed in the scheme.

What is the maximum quantum of loan provided in the scheme?

There is no restriction on the quantum of loan that a bank can sanction in the scheme. However, guarantee cover under the scheme will be minimum for Rs.0.15 crore and maximum Rs.5.00 crore.

What are the kind of documentation required for the bank to become a MLI?

An undertaking needs to be signed by the Bank to become MLI.

What is the rate of interest that will be charged to the borrowers for loans covered under the scheme?

The rate of interest admissible on the loans covered under the scheme will be per the interest rate policy of the MLI and will be linked to base rate of the MLI subject to maximum interest rate charged by MLI will not be more than 3% over and above the base rate of the MLI.

What is the maximum tenure of the guarantee cover in the scheme?

The maximum tenure of the guarantee cover may be upto 7 years or loan repayment period whichever is earlier. However, initially the loan shall be guaranteed for 1 years and renewed at yearly intervals.

Definitions

  • Credit Enhancement

References

Scheme Guidelines
https://socialjustice.gov.in/writereaddata/UploadFile/creditguide09082019.pdf
Additional Guidelines
https://www.ifcicegssc.in/Default/ViewFile/?id=Scheme_Details-English_2018.pdf&path=DownloadForms

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Frequently asked questions

What is the purpose of Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme For The Scheduled Castes?
Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme For The Scheduled Castes is a government welfare initiative designed to support Infra through benefits related to Business & Entrepreneurship, financial assistance, subsidies, social welfare, healthcare, education, or livelihood support.
Who can apply for Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme For The Scheduled Castes?
Eligibility for Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme For The Scheduled Castes 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 Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme For The Scheduled Castes?
Benefits under Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme For The Scheduled Castes 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 Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme For The Scheduled Castes?
Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme For The Scheduled Castes is managed by Ministry Of Social Justice and Empowerment and may be implemented through district offices, online portals, CSC centres, banks, or authorised government agencies.
Can users apply online for Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme For The Scheduled Castes?
Yes, eligible applicants may be able to apply online for Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme For The Scheduled Castes through official government portals, authorised service centres, or digital application systems depending on the implementation process.
Is Aadhaar mandatory for Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme For The Scheduled Castes?
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 Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme For The Scheduled Castes?
Applications for Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme For The Scheduled Castes 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 Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme For The Scheduled Castes?
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 Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme For The Scheduled Castes a central government scheme?
Yes, Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme For The Scheduled Castes is a central government welfare initiative that may be implemented across multiple states through authorised departments and agencies.
Does Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme For The Scheduled Castes provide healthcare or insurance support?
Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme For The Scheduled Castes may provide healthcare assistance, insurance coverage, cashless treatment support, medical reimbursement, or hospital-related benefits depending on the scheme structure.
Can beneficiaries use Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme For The Scheduled Castes at government hospitals?
Eligible beneficiaries may be able to access services at empanelled hospitals, government healthcare facilities, or authorised healthcare providers depending on scheme participation rules.
Does Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme For The Scheduled Castes provide business loan or startup assistance?
Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme For The Scheduled Castes may support entrepreneurs, startups, self-employed individuals, MSMEs, or small businesses through financial assistance, subsidies, credit support, or training initiatives.
Is collateral required under Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme For The Scheduled Castes?
Collateral requirements may vary depending on the loan amount, implementing agency, financial institution, and government subsidy structure.
Can CSC centres help users apply for Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme For The Scheduled Castes?
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 Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme For The Scheduled Castes?
Users should verify official notifications, department announcements, application deadlines, and eligibility updates through authorised government portals or implementing agencies.
Are there deadlines for applying to Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme For The Scheduled Castes?
Some schemes may operate through fixed application windows, annual registration cycles, or department-specific deadlines depending on scheme implementation policies.
Can beneficiaries track application status for Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme For The Scheduled Castes?
Certain schemes may provide online application tracking, beneficiary verification systems, or status-check facilities through official portals.
Where can users get help for Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme For The Scheduled Castes 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 Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme For The Scheduled Castes 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.