The Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGS) was launched by the Government of India (GoI) to make available collateral-free credit to the micro and small enterprise sector. Both the existing and the new enterprises are eligible to be covered under the scheme. The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, GoI and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), established a Trust named Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) to implement the Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises. The scheme was formally launched on August 30, 2000.

Eligible Lending Institutions

The Banks / Financial Institutions, which are eligible under the scheme, are scheduled commercial banks (Public Sector Banks/Private Sector Banks/Foreign Banks) and select Regional Rural Banks (which have been classified under ‘Sustainable Viable’ category by NABARD). As on May 31, 2016, there were 133 eligible Lending Institutions registered as MLIs of the Trust, comprising of 26 Public Sector Banks, 21 Private Sector Banks, 73 Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), 4 Foreign Banks and 9 other institutions i.e. Delhi Financial Corporation, Kerala Financial Corporation, Jammu & Kashmir Development Finance Corporation Ltd, Andhra Pradesh State Financial Corporation, Export Import Bank of India, The Tamil Nadu Industrial Investment Corporation Ltd., National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), North Eastern Development Finance Corporation (NEDFI) and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).

Eligible Credit Facility

The credit facilities which are eligible to be covered under the scheme are both term loans and/or working capital facility up to Rs.100 lakh per borrowing unit, extended without any collateral security and / or third party guarantee, to a new or existing micro and small enterprise. For those units covered under the guarantee scheme, which may become sick owing to factors beyond the control of management, rehabilitation assistance extended by the lender could also be covered under the guarantee scheme. Any credit facility in respect of which risks are additionally covered under a scheme, operated by Government or other agencies, will not be eligible for coverage under the scheme.

Guarantee Cover

The guarantee cover available under the scheme is to the extent of 75 percent of the sanctioned amount of the credit facility. The extent of guarantee cover is 80 per cent for (i) micro enterprises for loans up to Rs.5 lakh; (ii) MSEs operated and/or owned by women; and (iii) all loans in the North-East Region. In case of default, Trust settles the claim up to 75% (or 80% wherever applicable) of the amount in default of the credit facility extended by the lending institution. For this purpose the amount in default is reckoned as the principal amount outstanding in the account of the borrower, in respect of term loan, and amount of outstanding working capital facilities, including interest, as on the date of the account turning Non-Performing Asset (NPA).

To know more about the scheme, click on the link https://dcmsme.gov.in/schemes/sccrguarn.htm