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Business & Entrepreneurship; Education & Learning

Samriddhi – Scheme for Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe Students for Setting Start-Ups

The scheme aims to provide opportunities for Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe students to design, launch, and run their own business or startup after formal education is completed or during their final year of education. The scheme provides a limited one-time financial assistance of ₹20,00,000/-.

Authority

Central

Region

Central Government

Status

Verified 2026

Updated

March 2026

What you get

- Total funding provided is ₹20,00,000/-. | - Limited one-time financial assistance of ₹20,00,000/- is provided to the Institute. | - Seed money of ₹2,00,000/- per startup will be given, and this amount is non-refundable. | - Funding is allocated for nine startups of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe students. | - ₹2,00,000/- will be given to the institute specifically for meeting the expenditure associated with the selection procedure. | - ₹1,00,000/- per year shall constitute a recurring grant portion of the total funding. | Other Details | - The total duration of the Scheme shall be for a period of 2 years. | - 100% of non-recurring funds are released at the time of the award of the scheme. | - ₹1,00,000/- each is released as recurring funding for two consecutive years. | - The seed money is provided to passed out or present students for starting their own enterprise after completion of the formal education from the same institute. | Conditions | - The Institute must set up a committee to select nine already registered startups of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe students. | - It is essential that the center has dedicated faculty serving as the Principal Coordinator and dedicated support staff to ensure smooth functioning and effective meeting of its objectives. | - The Institute must devise a feedback mechanism to assess the importance of the program. | - Feedback shall be obtained after each program from each of the beneficiaries. | - If deemed necessary based on feedback, the Institute can update its curriculum for these programs. | - Exclusions from Benefit | - Startup beneficiaries who are already receiving benefits from other schemes of the All India Council for Technical Education or the Government of India will not be entitled to this scheme.

Who can apply

The applicant must be an All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) approved institute or an All India Council for Technical Education approved University Department.; The applicant (Institute/University Department) must have been in existence for a period of at least 10 years.; The applicant (Institution) must possess a good incubation center.; The incubation center's activities must have been happening for at least 5 years.; The applicant (Institute) must have a minimum of 50 Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe students enrolled on average during the last 3 years.; The applicant (Institute) must comply with the guidelines of the Tribal Sub Plan and the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan of the Government of India.; Student Eligibility (For selection by the Institute); The applicant (Student) must be in the final year of their degree or diploma course.; The applicant (Student) must have a registered company or startup in their name.

Required Paperwork

  • Aadhaar Card
  • PAN Card
  • Income Certificate
  • Residence Proof (Domicile)

Common Questions

If a startup is already receiving financial support from other government schemes, would that preclude the student from being eligible for this particular program?

Yes, startup beneficiaries who are currently receiving assistance from any other scheme offered by the All India Council for Technical Education or the Government of India (GOI) will not be entitled to this program.

How many registered student start-ups belonging to the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe categories will the institution ultimately be expected to select for funding?

The institute must establish a dedicated internal committee tasked with selecting exactly 9 already registered startups belonging to the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) students for funding.

What is the minimum duration the applying educational institution or university department must have been established to meet the requirements?

The Institute or University Department seeking to apply for this financial assistance must have been actively operating and in existence for a period of at least ten years.

Considering the institution is the primary applicant, what is the maximum total limited one-time financial assistance amount that the institution can potentially receive?

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) shall provide a limited one-time financial assistance amounting to ₹20,00,000/-, of which ₹1,00,000/- per year shall be counted as a recurring grant.

What specific allocation of funds is provided directly to the institute for covering administrative costs associated with identifying and selecting the beneficiaries?

The institute will be provided ₹2,00,000/- specifically intended for meeting the necessary expenditure related to executing the stipulated selection procedure.

What is the minimum average enrollment of students from the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe categories the institution must demonstrate over recent academic years?

The Institute must verify that it has maintained a minimum average enrollment of 50 Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) students on its official roll during the preceding 3 years.

What is the official total sanctioned time period for which the approved institution will be able to operate the various activities supported by this scheme?

The defined total duration for the implementation and operation of the scheme by the institution shall be officially set for a period of 2 Years.

Does the academic institution need to be recognized by any specific national regulatory body to be eligible to apply for this program?

Yes, the applying Institutes or University Departments must hold formal approval from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).

If my startup is successfully selected by the institution, what is the exact amount of seed funding a student entrepreneur is eligible to receive?

The selected student startup will receive seed money of ₹2,00,000/-, which is provided on a non-refundable basis.

Besides longevity, what physical or organizational facility must the applicant institution possess to qualify for receiving this support?

The applying institution is required to possess and maintain a functioning, high-quality good incubation center as part of its infrastructure.

When exactly should the awarded institution expect to receive the non-recurring portion of the approved financial grant for immediate use?

One hundred percent (100%) of the approved non-recurring funds are scheduled to be released by the All India Council for Technical Education at the time the scheme is officially awarded to the institution.

Do the student applicants need to have formally created a legally recognized business entity or start-up before applying for institutional selection?

Yes, it is a strict requirement that the applying student must have an officially registered company or startup listed in his or her name.

Are there any specific central government planning compliance rules that the applicant institution must adhere to before submitting a proposal?

Yes, the applying institution must demonstrate compliance with the official guidelines established for both the Tribal Sub Plan and the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan of the Government of India (GOI).

How long must the related activities of the incubation center within the institution have been operational for the application to be considered valid?

It is mandatory that the activities carried out by the institution's existing incubation center must have been demonstrably happening for a continuous period of at least 5 years.