Yuva Sahakar Scheme

Brief
The Yuva Sahakar – Cooperative Enterprise Support and Innovation Scheme is a youth-centric initiative launched by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and new business ideas in the cooperative sector, specifically aiming to empower young individuals

Objective
- To attract young people to the cooperative sector by supporting new and innovative business models
- To reduce financial barriers for new cooperatives by providing affordable loans
- To create sustainable, financially viable, and innovative cooperative ventures, especially in rural areas
- To offer special incentives to women, SC/ST, and PwD-led cooperatives

Eligibility Criteria
- The cooperative society must have been operational for a minimum of 3 months (some legacy sources mention one year)
- Must have a positive net worth and no cash losses
- Specifically targets young entrepreneurs, typically in the 18 to 45 years age range
- The project proposal must demonstrate innovation or impact on the value chain

Benefits
- Financial Assistance: NCDC covers up to 80% of project costs for special categories (women, SC/ST, PwD, or North-East/Aspirational districts) and 70% for others
- Interest Subvention: A 2% reduction on the applicable interest rate for projects up to ₹3 crore, provided repayments are timely
- Loan Tenure: Long-term loans with a repayment period of up to 5 years
- Moratorium: An optional 2-year moratorium on principal repayment

Nodal Department
National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)