- Maximum benefit
- Guarantee on loans up to ₹20 Crore per startup (85% cover up to ₹10 Crore, 75% above)
- Who can apply
- Micro, Small, Medium enterprises, for specific activities only
- Status
- Open
Is CGSS open? Key facts at a glance
CGSS (Central): Guarantee on loans up to ₹20 Crore per startup (85% cover up to ₹10 Crore, 75% above).
Last verified: 26 Oct 2026. How we check our information
| Status | Open |
|---|---|
| Level | Central government scheme |
| Type of benefit | Credit Guarantee for Startup Loans |
| Maximum benefit | Guarantee on loans up to ₹20 Crore per startup (85% cover up to ₹10 Crore, 75% above) |
| Project cost range | Loans up to ₹20 Crore per borrower |
| Who can apply | Micro, Small, Medium enterprises (Manufacturing, Service, Trading). Only for: Only for startups recognised by DPIIT. |
| Implementing agency | Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), with NCGTC managing the guarantees |
| Where to apply | NCGTC: CGSS (apply through a member lender) |
| Official notification | Read the notification · notified 6 October 2022 |
| Last verified | 26 Oct 2026 · How we check |
What is CGSS?
The Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS), first notified on 6 October 2022 and amended in May 2025, guarantees loans to DPIIT-recognised startups from banks, financial institutions, NBFCs and SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds.
Cover is up to ₹20 crore per borrower: 85% of the default for loans up to ₹10 crore and 75% above that. Startups in the 27 Champion Sectors pay a guarantee fee of 1% a year. NCGTC manages the guarantees for DPIIT.
Official notification · notified 6 October 2022
What are the key benefits of CGSS?
- Guarantee cover of up to ₹20 crore per borrower.
- 85% of the amount in default for loans up to ₹10 crore, and 75% for loans above ₹10 crore.
- Annual guarantee fee of 1% for startups in the 27 Champion Sectors.
- Covers loans from banks, financial institutions, NBFCs and SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds.
What could a unit get under CGSS?
The ceiling the scheme sets. What a particular unit receives depends on its project cost, location and the conditions on this page, so no rupee figure is worked out here.
Up to the scheme’s limits: Guarantee on loans up to ₹20 Crore per startup (85% cover up to ₹10 Crore, 75% above)
Illustrative only: this is the scheme’s maximum, not an estimate for your unit. Source: PIB, 9 May 2025 (amended CGSS: cover up to ₹20 crore, 85%/75% cover, 1% fee for the 27 Champion Sectors); Startup India Playbook, June 2026, p. 35; scheme first notified on 6 October 2022.
Who can apply for CGSS?
- Startups recognised by DPIIT.
- The loan must come from a member institution: a bank, financial institution, NBFC or SEBI-registered AIF.
Eligible business types
MSME categories covered
Eligible industries
How do I apply for CGSS?
- Apply for the loan through a member institution or through the Jan Samarth portal (Startup India Playbook, June 2026); the lender seeks the guarantee from NCGTC.
Which documents are needed for CGSS?
- DPIIT recognition certificate
- Loan application to a member institution
Why are CGSS applications rejected?
- Startup not recognised by DPIIT
- Lender is not a member institution
Subsidy Setu's DPR preparation process addresses all common rejection points before filing.
Frequently asked questions about CGSS
- Is CGSS open?
- Yes, it is open for applications. Status last verified: 26 Oct 2026.
- Who can apply for CGSS?
- Micro, Small, Medium enterprises (Manufacturing, Service, Trading). Only for: Only for startups recognised by DPIIT.
- What is the maximum benefit under CGSS?
- Guarantee on loans up to ₹20 Crore per startup (85% cover up to ₹10 Crore, 75% above).
- How do I apply for CGSS?
- 1. Apply for the loan through a member institution or through the Jan Samarth portal (Startup India Playbook, June 2026); the lender seeks the guarantee from NCGTC. Apply at: NCGTC: CGSS (apply through a member lender).
Related schemes
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