💼 PMMY
Collateral-free loans for non-corporate, non-farm small and micro enterprises through MUDRA scheme.
Overview
Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) is a flagship scheme launched on 8th April 2015 by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. The primary objective of the scheme is to provide collateral-free loans to non-corporate, non-farm small and micro enterprises engaged in income-generating activities.
This scheme addresses one of the biggest challenges faced by micro-entrepreneurs: lack of access to formal credit due to absence of collateral. By removing this barrier, PMMY aims to promote self-employment and enable micro-enterprise growth across the country.
About MUDRA
MUDRA stands for Micro Units Development & Refinance Agency Ltd. It is a specialized financial institution set up by the Government of India to support the development and refinancing of micro units and small enterprises.
- SIDBI (Small Industries Development Bank of India) holds a 100% stake in MUDRA, making it a wholly-owned subsidiary.
- MUDRA does not lend directly to borrowers. Instead, it provides refinancing support to Member Lending Institutions (MLIs) such as banks, NBFCs, and MFIs, who then disburse loans to the end borrowers.
Loan Categories
Under Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY), MUDRA offers four distinct loan schemes designed for different stages of business growth:
Pro Content Locked
Upgrade to Pro to access this lesson and all other premium content.
₹99 charged monthly · Cancel anytime
- All Agriculture & Banking Courses
- AI Lesson Questions (100/day)
- AI Doubt Solver (50/day)
- Glows & Grows Feedback (30/day)
- AI Section Quiz (20/day)
- 22-Language Translation (100/day)
- Recall Questions (20/day)
- AI Quiz (15/day)
- AI Quiz Paper Analysis (100/day)
- AI Step-by-Step Explanations (100/day)
- Spaced Repetition Recall (FSRS)
- AI Tutor
- Immersive Text Questions
- Audio Lessons — Hindi & English
- Mock Tests & Previous Year Papers
- Summary & Mind Maps
- XP, Levels, Leaderboard & Badges
- Generate New Classrooms
- Voice AI Teacher (AgriDots Live)
- AI Revision Assistant
- Knowledge Gap Analysis
- Interactive Revision (LangGraph)
🔒 Secure via Razorpay · Cancel anytime · No hidden fees
Overview
Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) is a flagship scheme launched on 8th April 2015 by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. The primary objective of the scheme is to provide collateral-free loans to non-corporate, non-farm small and micro enterprises engaged in income-generating activities.
This scheme addresses one of the biggest challenges faced by micro-entrepreneurs: lack of access to formal credit due to absence of collateral. By removing this barrier, PMMY aims to promote self-employment and enable micro-enterprise growth across the country.
About MUDRA
MUDRA stands for Micro Units Development & Refinance Agency Ltd. It is a specialized financial institution set up by the Government of India to support the development and refinancing of micro units and small enterprises.
- SIDBI (Small Industries Development Bank of India) holds a 100% stake in MUDRA, making it a wholly-owned subsidiary.
- MUDRA does not lend directly to borrowers. Instead, it provides refinancing support to Member Lending Institutions (MLIs) such as banks, NBFCs, and MFIs, who then disburse loans to the end borrowers.
Loan Categories
Under Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY), MUDRA offers four distinct loan schemes designed for different stages of business growth:
| Category | Loan Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Shishu | Up to ₹50,000 | For new/early-stage enterprises just starting out |
| Kishor | ₹50,000 to ₹5 lakh | For mid-stage enterprises looking to expand |
| Tarun | ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh | For established enterprises with proven track records |
| Tarun Plus | ₹10 lakh to ₹20 lakh | For entrepreneurs who have successfully repaid Tarun loans |
Note: Tarun Plus is exclusively available to entrepreneurs who have availed and successfully repaid previous loans under the 'Tarun' category. This incentivizes good repayment behavior and rewards creditworthy borrowers with higher loan limits.
Key Features
PMMY is designed to be borrower-friendly with several attractive features:
-
No Collateral Required: Borrowers do not need to pledge any assets or property to secure the loan, making it accessible to those without significant assets.
-
No Processing Charges: There are no upfront fees for processing the loan application, reducing the cost burden on borrowers.
-
No Guarantors Needed: Unlike traditional loans, MUDRA loans do not require third-party guarantors.
-
Business Plan Requirement: Applicants must have a viable business plan for a non-farm income generating activity. This ensures loans are used productively.
-
Credit Guarantee: Loans are backed by the CGFMU (Credit Guarantee Fund for Micro Units), which protects lenders against defaults and encourages them to extend credit to micro-enterprises.
Lending Institutions
MUDRA loans are disbursed through a wide network of Member Lending Institutions (MLIs), ensuring broad accessibility across India:
- Commercial Banks (Public & Private Sector)
- MFIs (Micro Finance Institutions) – Specialized in serving the unbanked
- NBFCs (Non-Banking Finance Companies) – Alternative financial service providers
- Small Finance Banks – Focused on underserved segments
- RRBs (Regional Rural Banks) – Catering to rural and semi-urban areas
This multi-channel approach ensures that micro-entrepreneurs across urban, semi-urban, and rural areas can access MUDRA loans conveniently.
Eligible Beneficiaries
The scheme is inclusive and designed to support a wide range of borrowers:
Eligible Entities:
- Individuals (sole proprietors)
- Proprietary concerns
- Partnership firms
- Private and Public Limited Companies
- Other legal entities engaged in business activities
Eligibility Criteria:
To qualify for a MUDRA loan, the applicant must:
-
Have a business plan for a non-farm income generating activity in sectors such as:
- Manufacturing – Production of goods
- Processing – Value addition to raw materials
- Trading – Buying and selling of goods
- Service Sector – Providing services (transport, repairs, salons, etc.)
-
Have a credit requirement up to ₹20 lakh (the maximum limit under Tarun Plus category).
Credit Guarantee for MUDRA Loans
To encourage banks and financial institutions to lend to micro-enterprises without fear of loss, MUDRA loans are covered under the CGFMU (Credit Guarantee Fund for Micro Units), operated by NCGTC (National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company).
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | CGFMU by NCGTC |
| Coverage | All categories – Shishu, Kishor, Tarun, and Tarun Plus |
| First Loss Default Guarantee (FLDG) | 3% borne by the Member Lending Institution (MLI) |
| Guarantee Cover | 75% of the remaining amount in default (after FLDG) |
| Claim Payment Timeline | Within 60 days of lodging the claim |
This guarantee mechanism reduces the risk for lenders and promotes greater credit flow to micro-enterprises.
Interest Subvention for Shishu Loans
To provide additional support to the smallest micro-enterprises, the Government introduced the Scheme for Interest Subvention for MUDRA Shishu Loans:
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Eligible Loans | Shishu category (up to ₹50,000) |
| Subvention Rate | 2% per annum |
| Condition | Loan accounts should be standard (non-NPA) |
| Purpose | Reduce interest burden on the smallest micro units |
This means that borrowers under the Shishu category effectively pay a lower interest rate, making credit more affordable for nascent entrepreneurs.
MUDRA Card
One of the innovative features of PMMY is the MUDRA Card, which provides flexibility for working capital management:

| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Debit card issued on the RuPay platform |
| Purpose | Access the working capital portion of the sanctioned loan |
| Flexibility | Withdraw funds as per business need, not all at once |
| Interest Benefit | Pay interest only on the amount actually utilized, not the full sanctioned limit |
The MUDRA Card functions like a credit line, giving entrepreneurs the flexibility to manage their cash flow efficiently while minimizing interest costs.
Functions of MUDRA
MUDRA performs several key functions in the micro-enterprise ecosystem:
- Refinance: Provides refinance to lending agencies granting loans under PMMY.
- Guarantee: Facilitates offering guarantees for loans under PMMY.
- Financial Support: Extends financial support for micro-enterprises.
- Monitoring: Oversees and monitors PMMY data via their web portal.
Note: MUDRA does NOT provide insurance to micro-enterprises. This is not one of its functions.
Margin Requirements
- MUDRA requires margin/promoters' input as per RBI norms.
- Exception: Margin is not required for Shishu loans (up to ₹50,000).
Repayment Duration
- Depends on asset lifespan and cash flow.
- Maximum refinance tenure from MUDRA: 36 months.
- Periodic installments for term loans; OD/CC limits are on-demand and up for renewal/review.
Key Points
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Launch Date | 8th April 2015 |
| Ministry | Ministry of Finance, Government of India |
| Full Form | Micro Units Development & Refinance Agency Ltd |
| SIDBI Stake | 100% |
| Maximum Loan | ₹20 lakh (under Tarun Plus) |
| Collateral | Not required |
| Processing Charges | Nil |
| Guarantee | CGFMU (under NCGTC) |
| MUDRA Card | RuPay debit card for working capital (cash credit facility) |
| Interest Subvention | 2% p.a. for Shishu loans (standard accounts) |
| Margin | As per RBI norms (except Shishu - no margin) |
| Max Refinance Tenure | 36 months |
Summary Cheat Sheet
| Concept / Topic | Key Details / Explanation |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) |
| MUDRA Full Form | Micro Units Development & Refinance Agency Ltd. |
| Launch Date | 8th April 2015 by Ministry of Finance |
| Objective | Collateral-free loans to non-corporate, non-farm small/micro enterprises |
| SIDBI Stake | 100% — MUDRA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SIDBI |
| Lending Model | MUDRA does NOT lend directly; provides refinancing to MLIs |
| Shishu Loan | Up to Rs. 50,000 — for new/early-stage enterprises |
| Kishor Loan | Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 5 lakh — for mid-stage enterprises |
| Tarun Loan | Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh — for established enterprises |
| Tarun Plus Loan | Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 20 lakh — for those who repaid Tarun loans |
| Collateral | Not required for any MUDRA loan |
| Processing Charges | Nil |
| Guarantors | Not needed |
| Credit Guarantee | CGFMU operated by NCGTC |
| FLDG (First Loss Default) | 3% borne by MLI |
| Guarantee Cover | 75% of remaining amount in default |
| Claim Payment | Within 60 days |
| Interest Subvention | 2% p.a. for Shishu loans (standard/non-NPA accounts only) |
| MUDRA Card | RuPay debit card for working capital; interest only on amount utilized |
| Margin Requirement | As per RBI norms; no margin for Shishu loans |
| Max Refinance Tenure | 36 months |
| Eligible Sectors | Manufacturing, Processing, Trading, Service Sector |
| MLIs | Commercial Banks, MFIs, NBFCs, Small Finance Banks, RRBs |
| MUDRA Functions | Refinance, Guarantee, Financial Support, Monitoring — does NOT provide insurance |
| Eligible Entities | Individuals, Proprietorship, Partnership, Private/Public Ltd companies |
Lesson Doubts
Ask questions, get expert answers