Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar Udyog Uday Yojana: Assistance for Raising Capital through SME Exchange

The Industries and Mines Department, Gujarat, administers the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Udyog Uday Yojana, an umbrella scheme for the state's Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector. The scheme is active from August 7th, 2020, to August 6th, 2025, and is intended to support entrepreneurs from the SC/ST communities, with the goal of improving their contribution to employment, GDP, and exports.

The "Assistance for Raising Capital through SME Exchange" component addresses the difficulty MSMEs face in accessing public capital markets. It provides financial assistance to cover the substantial costs of listing on SME Exchanges, making equity capital raising more feasible. The scheme encourages eligible businesses to consider funding options beyond conventional debt, which supports financial independence and long-term sustainability. For SC/ST-led enterprises aiming to scale and expand, this assistance is designed to facilitate growth. Public listing also promotes transparency and corporate governance, potentially opening avenues for additional investment.

The application process for the Assistance for Raising Capital through SME Exchange component is handled entirely online through the Gujarat Government's Investor Facilitation Portal (IFP). Applicants begin by completing a new investor registration on the portal. This requires going to the "New Investor Registration" section, completing the detailed registration form with all necessary personal and business information, and submitting it. After submission, account activation is required via an email verification step, where applicants must click a link sent to their registered email address. Once registration and verification are complete, entrepreneurs can sign in to their IFP account with their credentials. Inside the portal, applicants then provide specific details about their enterprise, upload all required supporting documents related to their SME Exchange listing and incurred expenditures, and formally submit their application for financial assistance. The portal acts as a single platform for managing the entire application lifecycle, from initial registration through to final submission.

The selection process functions as an eligibility and verification exercise rather than a competitive evaluation. After submission through the Investor Facilitation Portal, departmental officials review the application. Assessment centres on the applicant's status as an SC/ST-led Micro, Small, or Medium Enterprise, confirmation of equity capital raised through an SME Exchange, and submission of the application within one year of the listing date. Expenditure details for which assistance is claimed are checked against supporting documents to verify authenticity and compliance with scheme guidelines. This procedure ensures that only enterprises meeting the criteria and completing the SME Exchange listing receive the financial support provided.