Best Government Schemes for Women Entrepreneurs in India

Previously, Indian women were perceived as the weaker sex, but not anymore. Women are now working towards gaining financial freedom by working in companies and even starting their own businesses. This is why the Indian government has set up multiple government schemes for women entrepreneurs. 

These schemes provide financial support, resources, and training opportunities that help women build successful businesses. These opportunities reflect the government’s commitment to empowering women as the next generation of entrepreneurs to lead India into the golden age. 

What are some challenges faced by Women Entrepreneurs? 
What are the benefits of Government Schemes for Women entrepreneurs?
The Top 10 Government Schemes for Women Entrepreneurs in India

What are some challenges faced by Women Entrepreneurs? 

As per the Global Gender Gap Report, India has made slight progress when it comes to gender parity, but it still ranks very low on the global scale. One of the biggest reasons for this is economic inequality. Some of the other key challenges women entrepreneurs face in India are: 

• Limited access to funds: As per the 2022 International Finance Report, nearly 90% of female entrepreneurs in India have not received any access to credit from formal financial institutions. This became highly evident during COVID-19 when 72% of women-led businesses did not have any financial backing. Sadly, women in India only receive credit that is equivalent to only 27% of their deposits, whereas men get around 52%. 
• Trying to balance work-family: In India, social norms expect women to be the caretakers at home and the professionals in the workplace. Irrespective of their entrepreneurial commitments, women are expected to juggle both. Unfortunately, this superwoman stereotype is what is leading women to redefine their goals and prioritize family over their own entrepreneurial dreams. 
• Limited Networking Options: For many women entrepreneurs in India, having no proper network is a significant challenge, especially when trying to set up a business. As per a survey by Google and Bain, over 49% of women have limited support due to restrictions on formal and informal networking opportunities. 
• No proper training: Not having enough knowledge or training is a key reason why women are still held back in their entrepreneurial journey. By addressing this challenge, India can reduce gender inequality and ensure that women have the ability to contribute to the economy and be financially independent. 

What are the benefits of Government Schemes for Women entrepreneurs?

The Indian Government has launched multiple schemes for women entrepreneurs to help transform their aspirations into reality. 

• Targeted support: These schemes were created to remove the issues of limit to credit for women entrepreneurs. Providing loans at favourable terms, with subsidiaries, ensures that women can confidently make the leap and start their entrepreneurial journey. 
• More than just financial aid: These schemes not only provide women with financial aid but also emphasize improvement of skills, and offer training programs tailored for the modern business world. Women can gain the right knowledge and set up businesses in sectors that are currently booming. 
• Access to markets and technology: The government schemes for women are perfect to help bridge the gap between innovators and opportunities. Women can access the markets faster and learn to use technology to connect with buyers, highlight their products, and adopt the latest tools for their businesses. 

While these loans are made specifically for women, there are some loan limits, age barriers, and specific conditions that need to be fulfilled before applying for the loan. So, let’s take a look at how the Government of India is helping women entrepreneurs set up their own businesses. 

The Top 10 Government Schemes for Women Entrepreneurs in India

The Annapurna Scheme

This loan, as the name states, is for women who want to join the food catering industry. The loan allows women to get capital to make purchases to buy utensils, and equipment, set up their restaurant, purchase delivery trucks, etc. Under this scheme for female entrepreneurs in India, women can not only open restaurants but can also package and sell food items. The loan limit under this scheme is INR 50,000. 

Top 87 Best Low Investment Business Ideas With High Profits

Are you looking for business ideas with low investment? Take a look at these high-profit business ideas that require low investment.

StartupTalkyShubham Kumar

Bhartiya Mahila Bank Business Loan

This banking scheme is considered to be one of the best government loan schemes for women as it can support large-scale business proposals. With a loan limit of INR 20 Crores, women entrepreneurs can dream big and set up their businesses in any field they want. 

Mudra Yojna Scheme

This government of India scheme helps to improve the status of women by making them independent and offering them loans so that they can be self-reliant. Once the loan is approved, users will get a Mudra card that works as a credit card with a withdrawal limit of 10% of the loan. 

You can avail of multiple options, such as different loan types, and even get an expansion on the amount. The present loan amount that is sanctioned by the government is INR 10 lakhs. 

There are four basic types of loans under the Mudra Yojana Scheme that women can avail of. These are: 

• Shishu Loan: This is a loan set up specifically for startups and new businesses. The loan amount for this scheme is only INR 50,000. 
• Kishor Loan: This loan is available for the expansion of existing businesses, and women can get anywhere from INR 50,000 to INR 5,00,000. Women can use this to purchase equipment, machinery, raw materials, etc. 
• Tarun Loan: This is also for established businesses owned by women, but the loan amount ranges from INR 5,00,000 to INR 10,00,000. 

Orient Mahila Vikas Yojana Scheme

This loan is for women who hold 51% shares in a business separately or collectively as a proprietor. It is the best option for these shareholders to expand the business and improve their livelihood. 

For this loan women entrepreneurs in India do not need collateral security and have a concession at the rate of interest of up to only 2%. The period is flexible for 7 years, and the loan limit is only INR 25 lakhs. 

Dena Shakti Scheme

This government scheme is for women who own businesses in the fields of agriculture, manufacturing, retail, SMEs, or micro-credit organizations. As per the guidelines of RBI, the maximum credit limit for women is based on the sector they plan to work in and the limit is only INR 20 lakhs. 

Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Yojana 

The Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Yojana, or PMRY, is one of the top schemes for women entrepreneurs. The focus of this scheme is to create skill-based self-employment for women entrepreneurs. 

This scheme is for both rural and urban sectors and was developed through multiple amendments such as cost, eligibility, and subsidy limits. The loan is up to 15% of costs with an upper ceiling of INR 12,500 per borrower. 

This scheme applies to all types of ventures, especially in trade, industries, and services. The eligibility for the loan are: 

• Age limit - 35 years 
• Loan limit for businesses - INR 2 lakhs 
• Services and industry - INR 5 lakhs 

 Udyogini Scheme

The Udyogini scheme supports women to be self-reliant and empowers them to be financially independent. This loan is valid for women who have a family income of less than INR 40,000 per annum and offers a cap amount of INR 1 lakh. 

The women’s loan scheme encourages budding female entrepreneurs by offering easy loan options and a good rate of interest as compared to the private sector’s high rates. 

Top 53 Successful Women Entrepreneurs In India 2025

Women entrepreneurship is growing at a fast pace in India. Here is a list of the top 53 Successful Women Entrepreneurs In India in 2025.

StartupTalkySakshi Jadhav

Mahila Udyam Nidhi Scheme 

This scheme aims to meet the gap in financial inequality. It helps promote MSMEs and small sector investments in multiple industries to help grow in other areas. This also helps encourage the reconstruction of SSI units that can be saved. Female entrepreneurs have a limit of only INR 10 lakhs and are available for a period of 10 years.  

Top 10 Low Investment Small Business Ideas To Start in 2022

If you are planning to start your own business in 2022. Here are the top 10 small business ideas that you can start with low investment right now.

StartupTalkyDevashish Shrivastava

Cent Kalyani Scheme

This government undertaking scheme targets both established and new set-up businesses for Women Entrepreneurs in the fields of retail, education, and training. But sadly, self-help groups are not eligible for this scheme. This loan is collateral-free and has zero processing fees. The selected category of women has a limit of INR 100 lakhs and can expand their business through this scheme. 

Stree Shakti Yojna

Under this scheme, female entrepreneurs qualified for a 0.05% concession for any loan amount exceeding INR 2 lakhs. This opportunity is perfect for women who want to launch their own ventures. But this scheme has a key prerequisite - women need to enroll in the Entrepreneurship Development Program (EDP). 

List Of Government Schemes for Startups in India

Looking for financial assistance and resources for your startup? Check out our comprehensive list of government schemes for startups in India.

StartupTalkyAshwini

Conclusion 

Creating and supporting empowered women entrepreneurs is not just about bridging the gender gap in India. It is about unlocking a massive potential for economic growth. By providing access to resources such as business loans, targeted training programs, and inclusive networking opportunities, the government is trying to help women thrive as business leaders in today’s economic boom. Also, by leveraging initiatives such as MSME loan schemes and other options, women can not only start but also upscale their businesses to new heights. 

FAQs

Why are there government schemes specifically for female entrepreneurs?

These schemes aim to address gender disparities in business ownership, empower women economically, and promote inclusive growth.

What are the primary benefits of these schemes?

Benefits include financial assistance (loans, subsidies), skill development, mentorship, and access to markets.

How can I apply for these schemes?

Application processes vary. Generally, you'll need to gather required documents (ID, business plan, etc.) and apply through designated government portals, banks, or relevant agencies.