Support

Stand-Up India handholding support and the Lead District Manager

हैंडहोल्डिंग सहायता और लीड डिस्ट्रिक्ट मैनेजर

Most Stand-Up India borrowers are starting their first business. So the scheme does more than link you to a bank. It also connects you with “handholding” support: training, mentoring, help with the project report and the loan application, work sheds, and margin-money support. SIDBI and NABARD offices act as Stand-Up India Connect Centres. In each district the Lead District Manager (LDM) monitors cases and helps clear problems.

What handholding means here

The Stand-Up India FAQs describe handholding as guidance for a new entrepreneur “starting from training to filling up loan applications as per bank requirements”. The portal connects you to agencies with the right expertise, such as skilling centres, mentoring, Entrepreneurship Development Programme centres and District Industries Centres. It gives their addresses and contact numbers.

You can ask for handholding when you register on standupmitra.in. If you say you need support, you are registered as a trainee borrower and linked to your district’s LDM and the relevant SIDBI or NABARD office. You can also walk into a connect centre or ask the LDM directly.

The seven support areas

Support area	Where it usually comes from
Skill training (vocational)	Vocational training providers, skilling centres
Financial literacy	Financial Literacy Centres (FLCs)
Entrepreneurship development	MSME-DIs, DICs, RSETIs
Mentoring	DICCI, women entrepreneur associations, trade bodies, NGOs
Project report	Project profiles from SIDBI, NABARD, DICs
Loan application	Connect centres, bank branch
Work sheds and margin money	DICs; State SC Finance Corporation, Women’s Development Corporation, KVIB, MSME-DIs

Sources: Stand-Up India FAQs; scheme guidelines.

The guidelines also mention help with utility connections, raw material sourcing, bill discounting, e-commerce registration and tax registration.

Who provides it

Stand-Up India Connect Centres: SIDBI and NABARD

The scheme guidelines name SIDBI and NABARD offices as Stand-Up India Connect Centres. They list 79 SIDBI offices and 503 NABARD offices. Their jobs are to:

arrange handholding for trainee borrowers
follow up with banks on likely cases, through the LDM
work with the LDM to clear bottlenecks

You can use a connect centre at any time, even after your loan has been sanctioned.

SIDBI

SIDBI runs and maintains the Stand-Up India portal. It also assists the State Level Bankers’ Committee and the District Level Credit Committee in monitoring. sidbi.in

NABARD

NABARD trains the trainers, LDMs and bank officers for Stand-Up India. It also organises events for stakeholders at least once a quarter.

The Lead District Manager’s role

Each district has a Lead District Manager, the officer who coordinates bank lending in the district. Under Stand-Up India the LDM’s listed duties are to:

monitor the progress of cases
be the contact point for SIDBI and NABARD in clearing bottlenecks
make bank branches aware of likely borrowers
follow up with the bank’s regional or zonal office so that loans are processed on time
make sure your handholding needs are met as far as possible
convene District Level Credit Committee meetings

Once your handholding needs are met to the satisfaction of the LDM and you, your loan application is generated through the portal.

District Level Credit Committee meetings

The District Level Credit Committee (DLCC) is chaired by the District Collector, with the LDM as convener. It takes up both ready-borrower and trainee-borrower cases at least once a quarter, and SIDBI and NABARD officers attend. The DLCC also handles grievance redressal at district level. It can help with problems over public utility services or work space for potential borrowers. If your case is stuck, ask the LDM to place it before the DLCC. See the grievance route.

Who does what

Who	Main job for you
Bank branch	Processes the loan; gives reasons for rejection
LDM	Monitors your case; follows up with the bank
DLCC	Quarterly case meeting; district grievances
SIDBI	Portal; handholding; bank liaison
NABARD	Handholding; trains bankers; quarterly events

Source: scheme guidelines.

Support after the loan

Support continues after disbursement. The guidelines provide for district-level events at least once a quarter. NABARD organises them with SIDBI’s support, to share good practice, solve problems and guide new entrepreneurs. These events also help with registration for bill discounting, online marketplaces and tax. Borrowers are expected to attend, run the unit with care and repay on time.

In July 2026 the Ministry of Finance told Parliament that banks continue to monitor existing Stand-Up India loans and give financial advice where needed. The portal network is described as more than 8,000 handholding agencies.

Do you pay for training?

Registering on the Stand-Up India portal is free. Training programmes are run by independent agencies, and the FAQs say you pay the agency directly at its own fee. Some government-run programmes, such as those at RSETIs or DICs, may have their own terms. Ask before you enrol.

How to find your LDM or connect centre

On the portal: standupmitra.in lists LDMs, connect centres and help centres by state and district.
At your bank branch: any branch can tell you who the LDM for the district is.
At the District Industries Centre or Collectorate: both work with the LDM.

When to choose the LDM route

The LDM route is useful if:

you are not sure which bank to approach
you need several kinds of help, such as training, a project report and margin money
your application has been pending past the expected timeline
a branch has refused to accept or process your application

The LDM cannot sanction a loan. That is the bank’s decision. But the LDM can make sure your case is seen and followed up.

Typical journey for a trainee borrower

Stage	Who helps
Register and ask for support	Portal; LDM
Training or EDP	FLC, RSETI, DIC, MSME-DI
Project report	Project profiles; connect centre
Margin-money support	State SC/ST or women’s corporation
Loan application generated	Portal, once needs are met
Bank appraisal and sanction	Bank branch
Support after sanction	Connect centre; quarterly events

Source: scheme guidelines.

If the agencies near you are not listed, ask the District Industries Centre or the LDM to suggest the nearest Rural Self Employment Training Institute or MSME Development Institute. Many programmes run in batches, so ask for the next start date early.

Getting the most out of handholding

A few habits make the support more useful:

Be specific when you register. If you need a project report and margin money but not skill training, say so. The portal links you to the agencies for the areas you choose.
Keep a record. Note the names of the agencies, the dates of training and any certificates you receive. A training certificate can help show the bank that you have prepared for the business.
Use the mentors. Women entrepreneur associations, DICCI and trade bodies are listed as mentoring partners. An established entrepreneur in your field can warn you about costs a project report might miss.
Ask about margin money early. State corporations for SC/ST and women may take time to sanction support. Apply in parallel with your bank application.

FAQ

What is handholding support in Stand-Up India? Help for first-time entrepreneurs with training, mentoring, the project report, loan application filling, work sheds and margin money, arranged through the portal, connect centres and the LDM.

Who is the Lead District Manager? The officer who coordinates bank lending in your district. Under Stand-Up India the LDM monitors cases and follows up with banks.

Is training free under Stand-Up India? Portal registration is free. Training agencies charge their own fees, paid directly to them.

What is a Stand-Up India Connect Centre? A SIDBI or NABARD office that arranges handholding for trainee borrowers and follows up with banks.

Can I get help after my loan is sanctioned? Yes. Connect centres remain open to you, and quarterly district events support borrowers.

Next: how to apply, documents, eligibility, or back to the Stand-Up India overview.

Last reviewed: 12 November 2026.