Lok Sabha Question No. 630 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-03
Subject: National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Ms. Praniti Sushilkumar Shinde

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.630 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.02.2026

## NATIONAL SCHEDULED CASTES FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

## 630. MS. PRANITI SUSHILKUMAR SHINDE:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the total funds allocated to the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) during each of the last five years and the current year;
- (b) the amount of funds actually disbursed and utilised during the same period, year-wise;
- (c) the number of Scheduled Castes beneficiaries covered under various NSFDC schemes during these years, State-wise;
- (d) whether it is a fact that a significant portion of NSFDC funds remains unutilised or underutilised in several States;
- (e) if so, the reasons for such underutilisation, including delays by State Channelising Agencies, procedural hurdles or lack of awareness among eligible beneficiaries;
- (f the steps taken by the Government to improve fund utilisation, strengthen monitoring of State Channelising Agencies and ensure timely credit and wider outreach of NSFDC schemes; and
- (g) whether the Government proposes to revise guidelines or enhance allocations to ensure effective economic empowerment of Scheduled Castes communities, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE)

- (a): A total amount of Rs.1500 crore was released up to 31.03.2020 by Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE) to National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) and an additional amount of Rs.15 crore as equity was also released to NSFDC during the year 2023-24.
- (b): The amount of funds actually disbursed and utilized during the same period, year-wise, by NSFDC is given below:

(Rs. in crore)

| Year (1)                   |   Funds disbursed by NSFDC to State Channelizing Agencies /Channelizing Agencies (SCAs/CAs) (2) | Funds utilised by State Channelizing Agencies/Channelizing Agencies (SCAs/CAs)* (3)   |
|----------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2020-21                    |                                                                                          548.23 | 383.87                                                                                |
| 2021-22                    |                                                                                          572.01 | 522.61                                                                                |
| 2022-23                    |                                                                                          635.94 | 482.75                                                                                |
| 2023-24                    |                                                                                          714.45 | 739,40                                                                                |
| 2024-25                    |                                                                                          611.78 | 1092.17                                                                               |
| 2025-26 (as on 23.01.2026) |                                                                                          382.35 | 423.39                                                                                |
| Total                      |                                                                                         3464.76 | 3644.19                                                                               |

*Funds utilized includes funds received during the previous years but utilized in subsequent years.

(c): The number of Scheduled Caste beneficiaries covered under various NSFDC schemes during these years, State-wise is at Annexure.

(d) & (e): As on 23.01.2026, an amount of Rs. 7673.59 crore has been utilised against the total cummulative amount of Rs. 7856.65 crore and an amount of Rs.183.06 crore is unutilized, indicating cummulative fund utilization level of 97.67%. Further, the reasons for delay in utilization of NSFDC funds by the State Channelizing Agencies are as under:

- i. Delay in selection and finalization of beneficiary list on the part of SCAs.
- ii. Time taken in completion of loan documentation process by selected beneficiaries.
- ili. As a result of non-receipt of utilization details from district/branches, many times, the channelizing agencies are not able to provide Utilization Certificates to NSFDC and accordingly, the amount is shown as underutilized in NSFDC's records.

(f): The steps taken by NSFDC to improve fund utilization to ensure timely credit, strengthen monitoring of State Channelizing Agencies/ Channelizing Agencies and wider outreach of NSFDC's schemes are as under:-

- i. As per NSFDC's lending policy implemented with effect from 01.04.2025, the State Channelizing Agencies/Channelizing Agencies are given 90 days' time from the date of disbursement of funds, to utilize the funds. For any further disbursements, the SCAs/CAs has to achieve utilization level of 100%, against earlier released funds.
- ill. NSFDC officials from Headquarter and Liaison centres visit the SCAs/CAs to discuss all pending issues including fund utilization.
- ii. VC meetings are conducted at regular intervals with SCAs/CAs to review utilization position and improve utilization level of funds released earlier.

- iv. NSFDC officials regularly participate in the Board Meetings of SCAs wherein issues relating to implementation of NSFDC schemes are reviewed.
- V. NSFDC assigns third party evaluation studies of schemes in States wherein an external agency conducts field visits of sample beneficiaries and documents the impact of the schemes on beneficiaries.
- vi. In order to ensure timely credit and wider outreach, NSFDC conducts awareness programmes of its schemes in various States.
- vii. NSFDC schemes are also publicized widely during exhibitions/fairs in different parts of the country.

(g): NSFDC has revised its lending policy with effect from 01.04.2025, for effective implementation of its schemes for economic empowerment of Scheduled Caste communities. In addition, the annual family income eligibility limit has also been revised from Rs. 3 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh with effect from 07.01.2026 for availing NSFDC loan assistance.