Samriddhi – Scheme for Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe Students for Setting Start-Ups
₹2 lakh non-refundable seed money per startup · SC/ST students · India
A scheme by AICTE that funds SC/ST students in their final year of degree or diploma to launch registered startups. Eligible institutes receive ₹20 lakh total, which is distributed as ₹2 lakh seed money to each of nine selected student startups. Apply through the AICTE portal using your institute's existing credentials.
About This Scheme
A scheme by AICTE that funds SC/ST students in their final year of degree or diploma to launch registered startups. Eligible institutes receive ₹20 lakh total, which is distributed as ₹2 lakh seed money to each of nine selected student startups. Apply through the AICTE portal using your institute's existing credentials.
Full official description
The scheme "Samriddhi – Scheme for Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe Students for Setting Start-Ups" was launched by the All India Council for Technical Education. 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/- (of which ₹1,00,000/- per year is a recurring grant) to the institute, which then selects nine registered startups of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe students and provides ₹2,00,000/- seed money to each startup.
Benefits
- ₹2,00,000 seed money per startup (non-refundable) — up to 9 startups per institute
- ₹2,00,000 to the institute to cover selection procedure costs
- ₹1,00,000 per year as recurring grant to the institute for 2 years
- Total funding of ₹20,00,000 per institute
💡 Why Startups Should Care
Non-refundable seed money removes the biggest fear for first-time SC/ST student founders — the risk of debt. If you're a student with a viable idea and your institute is AICTE-approved, this ₹2 lakh grant can fund your MVP without any repayment obligation.
Who Can Apply (Eligibility)
- Applicant must be an AICTE-approved institute or university department in existence for at least 10 years
- Institute must have an active incubation centre running for at least 5 years
- At least 50 SC/ST students enrolled on average over the last 3 years
- Student must be in their final year of a degree or diploma course
- Student must have a registered company or startup in their name
- Students already receiving benefits from other AICTE or Government of India schemes are not eligible
How to Apply
- Your institute (approved by AICTE) logs in to the AICTE portal.
- The institute submits proposals for SC/ST student startups seeking seed funding.
- Up to 9 startups per institute can be funded under this scheme.
- On approval, ₹2 lakh non-refundable seed money is disbursed per startup.
- The institute receives additional funding for administrative support.
Frequently Asked 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.
Ready to apply?
Visit the official government portal to apply for this scheme.
Apply on myScheme.gov.inDocuments Required
- Proof of AICTE approval (institute status)
- Proof of institute/university department existence
- Student startup pitch and business plan documentation