- Why in news
- On 8 October 2026, PIB published a feature on the National SC-ST Hub (NSSH), citing 1,90,414 beneficiaries and procurement from SC/ST-owned MSEs rising to ₹4,013.42 crore in 2025-26.
- What it is
- The National SC-ST Hub is a scheme of the Ministry of MSME, launched in 2016 to help SC/ST entrepreneurs. It is implemented through the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC). It combines capacity building, market access and financial support, and promotes procurement from SC/ST-owned MSEs.
- Launch and agency
- NSSH was launched on 18 October 2016 and is implemented through NSIC.
- Procurement target
- Central Ministries, Departments and CPSEs must buy 25% of annual purchases from MSEs, with 4% of total procurement earmarked for SC/ST-owned MSEs.
- SCLCSS subsidy
- The Special Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme gives a 25% capital subsidy, capped at ₹25 lakh, on purchases financed by institutional credit.
- SPRS benefits
- MSEs registered with NSIC under the Single Point Registration Scheme get free tender sets and exemption from Earnest Money Deposit.
- Procurement growth
- Procurement from SC/ST-owned MSEs rose from ₹99.37 crore in 2015-16 to ₹4,013.42 crore in 2025-26.
Don’t confuse with NSSH vs Stand-Up India: NSSH supports SC/ST-owned MSEs through NSIC. Stand-Up India gives bank loans to SC/ST and women greenfield enterprises.
Don’t confuse with Procurement targets: 25% is the MSE procurement target for Central bodies. 4% of total procurement is the sub-target for SC/ST-owned MSEs.
Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.
Why it matters
- Improves SC/ST entrepreneurs' access to finance, skills and public markets.
- Procurement linkage turns support into actual business.
Problems
- Beneficiary numbers are small compared with the SC/ST population.
- Awareness and credit access remain uneven.
Way forward
- Widen outreach in lagging states and districts.
- Link training to GeM and track enterprise survival.
Put in your answer
Procurement growth: Procurement from SC/ST-owned MSEs rose about 39-fold from 2015-16 to 2025-26.
- 2014Mains GS2 · Q11Whether protective schemes exclude backward communities from urban business establishment.
- 2023Mains GS3 · Q1Government policies for MSME and manufacturing share in GDP.
- 2024Mains GS1 · Q18Why underprivileged sections don't get full affirmative action benefits.
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Statements
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
Consider the following statements:
- 1.The National SC-ST Hub scheme is implemented through the National Small Industries Corporation.
- 2.Under the Public Procurement Policy, Central Ministries, Departments and CPSEs must procure 4% of their total procurement from SC/ST-owned MSEs, within the 25% target for MSEs.
- 3.Under the Special Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme, the capital subsidy is 15% of the institutional credit-financed purchase, capped at ₹25 lakh.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
True or false?
1 of 6
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.The National SC-ST Hub scheme is implemented through the National Small Industries Corporation.
True. NSIC is the implementing agency.
2.Under the Public Procurement Policy, 4% of total procurement by Central Ministries and CPSEs is earmarked for SC/ST-owned MSEs.
True. 4% sub-target within the 25% MSE procurement target.
3.MSEs registered under the Single Point Registration Scheme are exempt from paying Earnest Money Deposit.
True. SPRS gives free tender sets and EMD exemption.
4.Under the Special Marketing Assistance Scheme, enterprises can take part in up to four domestic and two international events each financial year.
True. Limit is four domestic and two international events a year.
5.Capacity-building support under NSSH covers short courses at the top 50 management institutes identified under NIRF.
True. Courses last 1-30 days at the top 50 NIRF-ranked management institutes.
6.NSSH was launched in 2016 under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
False. It is a Ministry of MSME scheme.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.