WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS
Mudra Yojana: Rs 33 lakh crore of collateral-free loans sanctioned, 68 pc beneficiaries women
Under Mudra Yojana, Pankaj Chaudhary said that the government has provided collateral-free loans exceeding Rs 33 lakh crore to 52 crore individuals. These loans, ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 20 lakh, have empowered people to start businesses. A significant 68 percent of beneficiaries are women, contributing to economic development.
Janhvi Kapoor's billionaire bestie gifts her Rs 4 crore car. Who is Ananya Birla? A look at her qualifications, net worth
Janhvi Kapoor received a lilac Lamborghini, estimated at ?4-4.99 crore, as a gift from her friend Ananya Birla. The supercar's arrival at Janhvi's residence, along with a gift box, was captured in a widely shared video. Ananya, a singer and businesswoman, has been friends with Janhvi for years.
Mudra loan given by Punjab & Sind Bank generates 10 lakh jobs at grassroot level: MD
Punjab & Sind Bank's Mudra loans have generated 10 lakh jobs in the last decade, according to MD Swarup Kumar Saha. The bank disbursed ?12,820 crore to over 6.84 lakh beneficiaries, including small vendors and women entrepreneurs. A significant 44% of loans were under the Shishu category, focusing on first-time borrowers.
Revolution in the barn: AI-Powered agritech tackles India’s Rs 1.5-lakh crore post-harvest storage woes
India loses 10% of its total food grain production post-harvest. The Delhi-based agri-logistic firm looks to minimise it through its digital warehouse management solution—Agri Reach
Leading the clean energy transition: How women are pioneering change in the sector
The roundtable hosted by ETEnergyworld and PIL highlighted the significant gender gap in India's energy and infrastructure sectors, despite some progress. Emphasis was placed on the transformative role of women in renewable energy, structural inequalities, mentorship, and the need for policies to foster inclusivity.
Lenders add nearly 25,000 beneficiaries under Tarun Plus category of Mudra Yojana
Lenders have added about 25,000 beneficiaries under the Tarun Plus category of PM Mudra Yojana in FY25, providing enhanced loans up to Rs 20 lakh. This initiative doubled the loan limit for successful previous borrowers and saw 24,557 new loans sanctioned amounting to Rs 3,790 crore in just four months.
- Go To Page 1
Career choices of Indian students abroad shifting toward entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurial ambitions are rising among Indian students studying abroad, with 37% planning to start their own ventures post-education, according to LeapScholar’s survey. A significant gender gap exists, with 43.1% of male students interested in entrepreneurship compared to 24.2% of female students.
GeM facilitates over Rs 38,500 crore in transactions for over 30,000 startups
The government e-marketplace (GeM) has enabled over Rs 38,500 crore in transactions for 30,000+ startups, reinforcing its position as a true catalyst in India's innovation ecosystem. According to the ministry, women entrepreneurs comprise 8% of the total seller base on GeM.
Around 50% of Mudra accounts belong to SC, ST and OBCs; boosting financial independence: SBI Report
The Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) is driving financial independence among marginalized groups, with nearly 50% of its 52 crore accounts belonging to SC, ST, and OBC individuals. The scheme, which provides collateral-free loans, has empowered women entrepreneurs, with 68% of account holders being women.
Assam CM Sarma kickstarts ‘Lakhpati Baideo’ journey as he launches state's biggest women entrepreneurship support scheme
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the 'Lakhpati Baideo' journey, initiating the first phase of payments to over 23,000 women entrepreneurs under the Mukhyamatri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan. This initiative aims to empower 27 lakh SHG members with financial independence. Sarma announced further financial support and benefits linked to successful utilization of seed capital, alongside other social welfare schemes.
Karnataka government selects 101 startups under Elevate, offers Rs 25 crore in seed funding
So far, since its inception, the programme under the IT-BT department has disbursed Rs 249 crore, aiding 1,084 startups. A quarter of them 25% are led by women while 30% are from regions beyond Bengaluru, the government said.
ET Women Conclave 2025: A confluence of visionaries and innovators
The ET Women Conclave 2025, held at Grand Hyatt in Gurgaon, brought together industry leaders, pioneers, and changemakers for discussions on leadership, innovation, and empowerment. Highlights included sessions on managing well-being, overcoming unconscious bias, and celebrating women's progress in various sectors.
ET MSME Awards 2024: Meet the 20 winners of India’s biggest MSME awards
The fifth edition of the ET MSME Awards in New Delhi felicitated the very best in India’s MSME ecosystem and hosted inspiring, insightful panel discussions, fireside chats, and presentations.
BFSI stocks in focus as RBI revises priority sector lending guidelines to boost credit access
The RBI's revised Priority Sector Lending (PSL) guidelines, effective April 1, 2025, aim to improve credit access to key sectors like housing, renewable energy, and MSMEs. Key changes include higher loan limits, expanded definitions for weaker sections, and revised targets for various banks. The new framework seeks to support national development, financial inclusion, and sustainable economic growth.
RBI unveils revised guidelines on priority sector lending to boost credit access
The Reserve Bank of India has announced new guidelines for Priority Sector Lending (PSL), effective from April 1, 2025. These revised provisions include higher loan limits, expanded coverage for renewable energy and weaker sections, and revised PSL targets for Urban Cooperative Banks. The changes aim to improve credit access to priority sectors of the economy, ensuring better financial inclusion.
STPI-supported startups raise Rs 286 crore fund from investors
Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) director General Arvind Kumar said the organisation, formed under the Next Generation Incubation Scheme (NGIS) of the Ministry of Electronics and IT, has given early-stage seed capital of Rs 30.87 crore to 136 startups.
My parents sent me to IIT to study Engg, but... IIM-A topper shares why she left the classic Indian path of a well-paying corporate job
Radhika Munshi, an IIT and IIM graduate, left her high-paying corporate job to establish Anorah, a contemporary saree brand. Despite societal pressures and initial fears, she pursued her entrepreneurial dream. Since launching in 2023, Anorah has seen success with positive feedback from customers, highlighting Ms Munshi's fulfillment in her new journey.
ET MSME Awards 2024: Elite jury picks the best of Indian MSMEs
The Economictimes.com is back with the ET MSME Awards 2024. The award series will honour the exceptional MSMEs in the country across 22 categories
IIT, IIM degrees but selling sarees. Why did Radhika Munshi quit her high-paying corporate job?
Radhika Munshi, an IIT Roorkee graduate and IIM Ahmedabad topper, left a high-paying corporate career to follow her passion for entrepreneurship. In 2023, she launched Anorah, a saree brand blending tradition with modernity. Realizing a gap in the market for sarees catering to working women, she took a bold leap. Despite challenges, she finds fulfilment in building something of her own, redefining saree shopping for contemporary women.
ET MSME Awards 2024: Here’s what’s on the agenda
The grand finale of the ET MSME Awards 2024 on March 20 will reveal 20 winners from a pool of 101 finalists. Also on the anvil is an evening of networking, engaging discussions, fireside chats, and a celebration of India’s resilient MSME sector.
TN govt packs largesse for flagship welfare schemes
The MK Stalin-led DMK government presented its budget for 2025-26, emphasizing its commitment to inclusive growth with substantial allocations for women's welfare and industrial development. Notably, the fare-free bus travel scheme for women and the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam received significant funding.
ET MSME Awards 2024: And the nominees are…
After months of deliberations spanning multiple rounds of evaluation, vetting, and jury discussions, India’s largest, most credible MSME awards announces its shortlist. The winners for the ET MSME Awards 2024 will be revealed at a grand felicitation ceremony on March 20, 2025 in New Delhi.
FIEO launches SheTrades India hub for women entrepreneurs
The Federation of Indian Export Organisations, along with the International Trade Centre and UK government support, launched the SheTrades India Initiative Hub. This initiative aims to empower women entrepreneurs by providing workshops, mentoring, business matchmaking events, and policy advocacy to help them access international markets and development opportunities.
Amazon India partners with Youth4Jobs to empower women sellers with disabilities
Under the partnership, Amazon Saheli programme will conduct workshops and provide onboarding and account management support for these women sellers, according to a company statement.
When women generate income, they should be encouraged with income protection: Girija Subramanian
The Women Udyam Bima Policy is a step towards empowering women entrepreneurs by providing tailored financial protection. In this exclusive interview, Girija Subramanian, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, The New India Assurance Co. Ltd., discusses the urgent need for increased insurance penetration among women, the challenges they face, and how this new policy aims to bridge the gap.
Happy Women’s Day 2025: How women investors have evolved in the past few years
Women are increasingly becoming significant players in the financial world, with more of them making autonomous investment decisions and engaging in a diverse range of investment options. Their growing financial confidence is supported by enhanced access to financial education, digital platforms, and community support, leading to substantial economic and social shifts.
SBI launches collateral-free loans for women entrepreneurs
SBI has launched 'Asmita', a collateral-free low-interest loan program for women entrepreneurs, aiming to boost business borrowings by women. The initiative provides faster finance to women-led MSMEs through a digital process. Additionally, the 'Nari Shakti' platinum debit card was introduced, and Bank of Baroda initiated special savings accounts for Indian diaspora women.
60% of women-led businesses see over 10% revenue boost post securing loans: Indifi
Indifi Technologies reveals that nearly 60% of women entrepreneurs who secured business loans saw over a 10% revenue boost. Women-led businesses from tier-2 cities also saw significant growth in loan disbursals, highlighting increased financial access.
Around 80 pc of women-led biz face challenges with global payments: Report
Around 80 per cent of women-led businesses in India face difficulties with international payments, and 60 per cent struggle with complex regulatory compliances, hindering their global expansion. Limited financial resources and supply chain issues further challenge these enterprises, which represent just 15.4 per cent of businesses in the country.
Load More
