The eligibility criteria for financial assistance under the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) schemes are as follows:

  • Caste Requirement: The beneficiary(ies) must belong to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community.
  • Eligible Entities: Individuals, Partnership Firms, and Co-operative Societies are eligible to undertake income-generating activities.

Conditions for Partnership Firms and Co-operative Societies

Proposals submitted by Partnership Firms and Co-operative Societies shall be considered subject to the following mandatory conditions:

  • Membership Composition: All members of the Partnership Firm or Co-operative Society must belong to the Scheduled Caste community.
  • Income Ceiling: The annual family income of each individual member/applicant must not exceed ₹ 5.00 lakh.

Income Criteria

  • Credit/Loan-Based Schemes: The annual family income of applicants must not exceed ₹ 5.00 lakh (applicable to both rural and urban areas, effective from January 7, 2026).
  • Skill Development Training Programmes: There is no income criterion for participation in Skill Development Training Programmes.

Application Process and Channelization

  • Submission of Proposals: Applicants are required to apply for financial assistance from NSFDC through the concerned State Channelizing Agencies (SCAs) or Channelizing Agencies (CAs).
  • Communication Protocol: Direct contact or correspondence from applicants or beneficiaries shall not be entertained by NSFDC under any circumstances.

Verification Responsibility

  • Primary Verification: The verification of eligibility criteria shall be the sole responsibility of the concerned SCAs/CAs.
  • Right to Audit: Notwithstanding the above, NSFDC reserves the right to re-verify the eligibility of any applicant at its own discretion.