Big boost for women startups: Delhi to guarantee loans worth up to ₹10 crore

Rashmi Pandey — Sun, 17 May 2026 11:16:07 +0000

In a major push aimed at promoting women-led entrepreneurship and self-reliance in the national capital, the Delhi Government has announced collateral-free loans of up to ₹10 crore for women self-help groups and startups, with the government itself acting as guarantor for the loans.

The announcement was made by Rekha Gupta during the inauguration of the two-day Mega Self Help Group (SHG) Mela-2026 held at Unity One Mall near Rohini West Metro Station in northwest Delhi. The scheme is being projected as one of the most ambitious financial support initiatives for women entrepreneurs in the capital.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said the government is working toward making women financially independent, self-reliant and capable of building their own enterprises without facing difficulties in accessing institutional credit. She stated that banks often hesitate to sanction large business loans without collateral, particularly for small women-led businesses and emerging startups, and the new initiative seeks to bridge that gap.

According to officials, the Delhi government will provide guarantee support for loans up to ₹10 crore under the initiative, enabling women entrepreneurs, SHGs and startup founders to seek financing without pledging property or other assets. The move is expected to especially benefit women involved in handicrafts, food processing, home-based manufacturing, khadi products, fashion, small-scale retail and digital businesses.

During the event, the Chief Minister also announced that malls and major shopping complexes across Delhi would regularly provide dedicated spaces to promote indigenous and locally made products. The initiative aims to create stronger market access for products manufactured by women-led SHGs and local entrepreneurs.

The government linked the initiative to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s broader vision of “Atmanirbhar Bharat,” “Vocal for Local,” and “One District, One Product,” saying the capital would actively support locally manufactured goods and traditional crafts.

The SHG Mela featured participation from nearly 24 self-help groups displaying handmade products, handicrafts, crochet work, khadi items, processed foods and household goods. Officials said the exhibition was designed not only as a sales platform but also as an effort to connect women entrepreneurs directly with financial institutions and buyers. Representatives from multiple banking institutions were also present during the event to facilitate easier financial access for SHGs.

Rekha Gupta urged citizens to support locally manufactured goods instead of relying excessively on imported products and foreign brands. She said India’s handmade and traditional products were competitive in quality and only required better branding, marketing and wider consumer support.

The Chief Minister also linked the initiative with broader economic and sustainability campaigns, including fuel conservation and increased use of public transport. Referring to campaigns such as “Monday Metro” and “No Vehicle Day,” she said small behavioural changes could contribute significantly to strengthening the economy.

Political observers view the announcement as a major economic outreach initiative focused on women voters and small entrepreneurs ahead of future civic and assembly-level political engagements in Delhi. The government, however, maintained that the primary objective remains economic empowerment and strengthening grassroots entrepreneurship among women.

The event was attended by Member of Parliament Yogender Chandolia, MLA Kulwant Rana, senior district administration officials, banking representatives and women associated with self-help groups from across northwest Delhi.

VocalForLocal | Business Upturn

Big boost for women startups: Delhi to guarantee loans worth up to ₹10 crore