**Executive Summary**
This report, in response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2243, addresses the challenges in credit access for women-led MSMEs in Assam as of February 12, 2026. It details the various schemes and initiatives undertaken by the Government of India to strengthen credit access for these enterprises. The report includes specific details on the implementation and impact of these schemes, up to March 31, 2025, and provides data on loan disbursements, guarantee coverage, and subsidies.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Government Initiatives to Strengthen Credit Access:**
* The Ministry of MSME implements the Credit Guarantee Scheme (CGS) for Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) through the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE), providing credit guarantee for loans up to Rs 10 crore.
* A 10% concession in annual guarantee fees and 90% guarantee coverage is provided to women-owned MSEs under the CGS, compared to 75% for other entrepreneurs.
* The Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme offers a margin money subsidy of up to 35% for women-led micro enterprises for establishing new enterprises in the non-farm sector. The project cost limits are Rs. 50 lakh for Manufacturing and Rs. 20 lakh for Service enterprises.
* **Specific Schemes and Their Impact:**
* The PM Vishwakarma Scheme, launched on 17.09.2023, provides end-to-end support to artisans and craftspeople, including loans up to Rs. 3 lakh with interest subvention up to 8%.
* The Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS), operational until 31.03.2023, extended 1.13 crore guarantees amounting to Rs. 2.42 lakh crore to MSMEs, including women-led MSMEs.
* Stand-up India, launched in April 2016, aims to provide loans from Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 1 crore to at least one Scheduled Caste/Tribe and one woman borrower per bank branch for setting up a greenfield enterprise. 83% of the 2.75 lakh loans facilitated by the scheme were availed by women entrepreneurs, and was operational till 31.03.2025.
* **Data on Scheme Implementation in Assam:**
* CGTMSE: The percentage of women entrepreneurs covered in Assam was 1.1% in 2022-23, 1.5% in 2023-24, and 3.0% in 2024-25.
* PMEGP: Women-led micro enterprises assisted numbered 907 in 2022-23, 761 in 2023-24, and 1,081 in 2024-25, with corresponding margin money subsidy disbursements.
* PM Vishwakarma: In 2024-25, 3,509 loans were sanctioned to women in Assam, representing 29.18% of the total loans sanctioned under the scheme.
* Stand-up India: The percentage of women beneficiaries in Assam was 80% in 2022-23, 55% in 2323-24, and 71% in 2024-25.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises**
* **Impact**: Strengthens credit access for women-led MSMEs in Assam through various schemes and initiatives. Monitors the implementation and impact of these schemes.
* **Action Required**: Continue to implement and monitor the effectiveness of the schemes, adjust strategies to enhance women's access to credit, and disseminate information about available support.
**Department of Financial Services**
* **Impact**: Provides information and support for the implementation of schemes such as Stand-Up India and ECLGS, contributing to the overall efforts to improve credit access for women entrepreneurs.
* **Action Required**: Continue to provide support for scheme implementation, track the performance of women-led MSMEs benefiting from the schemes, and provide feedback for further improvements.
**Women Entrepreneurs in Assam**
* **Impact**: Increased access to credit through various government schemes, leading to the establishment and growth of micro and small enterprises, as well as employment generation.
* **Action Required**: Explore and utilize the available schemes and initiatives to access credit for their enterprises, participate in relevant training and capacity-building programs, and provide feedback to the government on the effectiveness of the schemes.
Key Entities Referenced
Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE): Scheme to provide credit guarantee for loans extended to MSEs, implemented by the Ministry of MSME.
Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS): Scheme launched in May 2020 to help business enterprises meet operational liabilities disrupted by COVID-19.
Assam: Location where the challenges in credit access for women-led MSMEs are being discussed.
Stand-Up India: Scheme to provide loans to at least one SC/ST and one woman borrower per bank branch for setting up a greenfield enterprise.
PM Vishwakarma Scheme: Scheme to provide end-to-end holistic support to artisans and craftspeople.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2243
TO BE ANSWERED ON: 12.02.2026
CHALLENGES IN CREDIT ACCESS FOR WOMEN-LED MSMEs IN ASSAM
2243. SHRI GAURAV GOGOI:
Will the Minister of MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that women-led Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
(MSMEs) in Assam continue to face difficulties in assessing institutional credit despite schemes such
as Stand-Up India and Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE), if so,
the details thereof;
(b) the number and percentage of loans disbursed to women entrepreneurs in Assam under major
MSME credit schemes, including Stand-Up India, CGTMSE and Emergency Credit Line Guarantee
Scheme (ECLGS), during the last three years, year-wise;
(c) whether the Government has examined the reasons for the low share of women-led enterprises
in overall MSME credit disbursal in Assam, if so, the details thereof;
(d) the steps taken to improve access to formal credit for women entrepreneurs in Assam,
particularly in rural areas and Tier-II & tier III towns; and
(e) whether any gender-responsive lending or monitoring mechanisms are proposed for Assam to
enhance credit flow to women-led MSMEs and if so, the details thereof.
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
(SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)
(a) to (e): To strengthen access to credit including for women-led Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises (MSMEs) across the country, including those in Assam, Government of India has taken a
number of steps, which inter alia include:
i. Ministry of MSME implements Credit Guarantee Scheme (CGS) for Micro and Small Enterprises
(MSEs) through Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) to
provide credit guarantee for loans extended to MSEs. The ceiling for guarantee coverage under
the scheme is Rs 10 crore. To support women entrepreneurs under the scheme, 10% concession is
given in annual Guarantee fees; 90% Guaranteecoverage is given to women-owned MSEs, as
against the 75% for other entrepreneurs.
ii. Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme provides Margin Money subsidy up to
35% for women-led micro enterprises, for setting up of new micro enterprises, in the non-farm
sector with project cost of Rs. 50 lakh for Manufacturing and Rs. 20 lakh for Service enterprises.: 2 :
iii. PM Vishwakarma Scheme was launched on 17.09.2023 to provide end-to-end holistic support to
artisans and craftspeople of 18 traditional trades who work with their hands and tools. The
Scheme includes provision of loans up to Rs. 3 lakh with interest subvention of max up to 8%.
iv. Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) was launched in May, 2020 for business
enterprises in meeting their operational liabilities in view of disruption caused by COVID-19
pandemic. The Scheme was operational till 31.03.2023. As reported by Department of Financial
Services (DFS), under ECLGS, since inception till 31.03.2023, total 1.13 crore guarantees
amounting to Rs. 2.42 lakh crore have been extended to MSMEs, including women-led MSMEs.
v. As informed by Department of Financial Services (DSF), Standup India was launched in April,
2016 with an objective to provide loan value of Rs.10 lakh to Rs.1 Crore to at least one
Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) and one women borrower per Bank branch for
setting up a greenfield enterprise in the field of manufacturing, services and trading sector and
also for activities allied to agriculture. The scheme facilitated 2.75 lakh loans of which 83% were
availed by women entrepreneurs. The scheme was operational till 31.03.2025.
The details of the benefits under the major schemes are at Annexure-I.
*****Annexure-I
Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) to (e) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2243
on“Challenges in Credit Access for Women-led MSMEs in Assam” due for answer on
12.02.2026.
CGTMSE - Guarantee Approved in the state of Assam
% of Women
Women Entrepreneurs Women Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs
in Assam (All India)
in Assam
F.Y. % of No. of % of Amt. of No. of Amt. of No. of Amt. of Guarantees
Guarantees Guarantees Guarantee Guarantees Guarantees approved in Rs. in
approved approved s approved in approved Crore
approved Rs. in Crore
2022-23 1.1% 1.9% 3,936 315 365,582 16,373
2023-24 1.5% 1.7% 6,313 544 425,865 32,223
2024-25 3.0% 1.9% 18,667 919 626,546 47,969
Women led Micro Enterprises assisted under PMEGP in the state of Assam
No. of micro MM Subsidy Estimated Employment
Financial Year
enterprisesassisted disbursed (Rs. Cr) Generated
2022-23 907 19.51 7,256
2023-24 761 19.26 6,088
2024-25 1,081 32.18 8,648
PM Vishwakarma- Loan Sanctioned (Assam State)
Financia Total no. of loans AmountSanctio Total no. of loans AmountSanctioned
lYear sanctioned ned (in Rs) sanctioned- Women (in Rs)- Women
2024-25 12,024 1,124,894,999 3,509 327,940,200
Percentage 29.18% 29.15%
Standup India (Assam)
Financial Year Total Women Percentage
(No. of A/c Disbursed ) (No. of A/c Disbursed) (Women)
2022-23 201 160 80%
2323-24 214 118 55%
2024-25 487 344 71%