Swavalambi Sarathi pays Karnataka’s SC/ST youth 75% of a taxi or goods vehicle’s price, up to ₹4 lakh. Minorities and backward classes get 50%, up to ₹3 lakh; a passenger auto gets ₹75,000. A bank lends the rest. Check your subsidy and EMI below.
ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಓದಿ: ಸ್ವಾವಲಂಬಿ ಸಾರಥಿ ಯೋಜನೆ ಸಬ್ಸಿಡಿ ಕ್ಯಾಲ್ಕುಲೇಟರ್ (ಕನ್ನಡ)
Swavalambi Sarathi subsidy calculator
Pick your category and vehicle. See the subsidy, your own share, the bank loan and EMI. Free, no sign-up. ಸ್ವಾವಲಂಬಿ ಸಾರಥಿ ಯೋಜನೆ: ನಿಮ್ಮ ಸಬ್ಸಿಡಿ, ಸಾಲ ಮತ್ತು EMI ನೋಡಿ.
- Backward-class and community corporations (D. Devaraj Urs and others): 2026-27 applications were on Seva Sindhu, last date 30 Sep 2026, reportedly extended to 15 Oct 2026 (Kannada news; no official notice found). That date has now passed, so the window is closed unless a fresh extension is announced — check Seva Sindhu before applying.
- Christian food-truck call (KCCDC): closed 30 Sep 2026.
- SC/ST (Ambedkar / Valmiki) and KMDC minority: no 2026-27 notice found as of 16 Oct 2026. Last official notices: Social Welfare Dept (SC, last date 10 Sep 2025) and KMDC 2025.
- Fact-check: viral posts that the scheme is “only for Muslims” were rated false by The Quint and Factly — SC, ST, backward classes and all religious minorities each have a component. Posts promising a “free ₹4 lakh car” to anyone with a licence are misleading: ₹4 lakh is the SC/ST cap at 75%, and the rest is a bank loan.
Estimate, not approval. Swavalambi Sarathi (Government of Karnataka, through its development corporations): SC/ST 75% of the vehicle cost up to ₹4 lakh; minority and backward classes 50% up to ₹3 lakh; passenger auto up to ₹75,000; Christian food truck 75% up to ₹3 lakh. Rules verified on 11 Oct 2026 — confirm with the corporation’s district office or your bank.
Worked example: ₹7.5 lakh taxi
An SC driver from a village in Kalaburagi buys a taxi with an on-road quotation of ₹7,50,000 and pays ₹50,000 himself. 75% of the price is ₹5,62,500, so the ₹4 lakh cap applies: subsidy ₹4,00,000. Bank loan ₹3,00,000; at 11% for 5 years the EMI is about ₹6,523. If the bank lends the full ₹7,00,000 until the subsidy is credited, the EMI is about ₹15,220 for those months.
The same taxi for a minority applicant (KMDC): 50% is ₹3,75,000, so the ₹3 lakh cap applies. Subsidy ₹3,00,000, loan ₹4,00,000, EMI about ₹8,697. A ₹3 lakh passenger auto with ₹30,000 down: subsidy ₹75,000, loan ₹1,95,000, EMI about ₹4,240.
Swavalambi Sarathi subsidy by corporation
| Category | Corporation | Vehicle | Subsidy | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC | Dr B.R. Ambedkar Development Corporation | Taxi / goods vehicle | 75% | ₹4 lakh |
| ST | Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation | Taxi / goods vehicle | 75% | ₹4 lakh |
| Religious minorities | Karnataka Minorities Development Corporation (KMDC) | Taxi / goods vehicle | 50% | ₹3 lakh |
| Religious minorities | KMDC | Passenger auto-rickshaw | Fixed | ₹75,000 |
| Christian | Karnataka Christian Community Development Corporation (KCCDC) | Food truck / mobile kitchen (new) | 75% | ₹3 lakh |
| Backward classes | D. Devaraj Urs Backward Classes Development Corporation | Four-wheeled light vehicle | 50% | ₹3 lakh |
Sources disagree: most sources give SC/ST ₹4 lakh, but one 2026-27 guide says ₹3 lakh, and one Kannada site says “70%”. Income limits differ too (SC/ST ₹1.5–2 lakh vs ₹2.5 lakh; KMDC ₹6 lakh vs ₹4.5 lakh). The calculator uses the official 2025 figures and warns you when you fall between two versions. The auto ₹75,000 figure is from the KMDC notice; for SC/ST and backward classes it is not clearly published.
Who can apply (eligibility)
| Component | Age | Family income | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| SC / ST | 21–56 (other sources 18–55) | ₹1.5 lakh rural / ₹2 lakh urban (another source ₹2.5 lakh) | 15 years in Karnataka; no family member in a government job |
| Minorities (KMDC) | 18–55 | Below ₹6 lakh (2025; older notice ₹4.5 lakh) | Permanent resident; licence from RTO |
| Christian food truck (KCCDC) | 21–45 | Up to ₹8 lakh | New vehicle only |
| Backward classes (Devaraj Urs) | 21–45 | ₹98,000 rural / ₹1.2 lakh urban | Category limits vary by corporation |
- Permanent resident of Karnataka, from the category the corporation serves.
- Valid driving licence; for a taxi or goods vehicle many offices ask for a commercial licence with a transport badge.
- Unemployed; no earlier vehicle or self-employment subsidy from a corporation.
- New vehicle only, registered as a commercial (yellow-board) vehicle; it cannot be sold during the loan.
Documents needed
- Aadhaar card and passport-size photo
- Caste certificate and income certificate (RD number from Nadakacheri)
- Driving licence (with badge if you have it)
- Residence proof; minority certificate for KMDC
- Bank passbook (Aadhaar-linked account)
- Dealer quotation for the new vehicle
- Self-declaration: unemployed, no earlier corporation benefit
How to apply
- Watch for your corporation’s call for applications (usually August–October) on Seva Sindhu or the corporation website (KMDC: kmdconline.karnataka.gov.in).
- Get a quotation for a new taxi, goods vehicle or auto from a dealer, and your caste / income certificate (RD number), Aadhaar, driving licence and bank passbook ready.
- Apply online on sevasindhu.karnataka.gov.in (or KMDC’s portal for minorities), or at a Grama One, Karnataka One or Bangalore One centre, and note the application number.
- The district selection committee short-lists applicants within the district target; selected applicants get a sanction letter.
- The bank sanctions the loan for the balance; you buy the vehicle, register it in your name with yellow (commercial) plates, and the subsidy is released to the bank / loan account by DBT.
Official portals: sevasindhu.karnataka.gov.in (all corporations) and kmdconline.karnataka.gov.in (KMDC, minorities). Not sure this is the best scheme for you? Compare with PMEGP and Mudra.
Frequently asked questions
Swavalambi Sarathi: how much subsidy do SC/ST applicants get in 2026? SC and ST applicants get 75% of the vehicle cost, up to ₹4 lakh, for a taxi or goods vehicle (Social Welfare Department notice, 2025). On a ₹6 lakh car the subsidy is ₹4 lakh; on ₹5 lakh it is ₹3.75 lakh. The rest is a bank loan. No 2026-27 SC/ST notice was out on 11 Oct 2026.
Is the 2026-27 Swavalambi Sarathi application open? What is the last date? For the backward-class and community corporations (D. Devaraj Urs and others) the 2026-27 last date on Seva Sindhu was 30 September 2026, reportedly extended to 15 October 2026 (Kannada news, no official notice found); that date has passed, so the window is closed as of 16 October 2026 unless re-extended. The Christian food-truck call closed on 30 September 2026. SC/ST and KMDC (minority) notices for 2026-27 had not appeared by 16 October 2026; the last SC notice closed on 10 September 2025.
How much subsidy for minorities? KMDC gives religious minorities (Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi) 50% of the vehicle value up to ₹3 lakh for a taxi or goods vehicle, and up to ₹75,000 for a passenger auto-rickshaw. Age 18–55, family income below ₹6 lakh (an older notice said ₹4.5 lakh), valid driving licence. Christians can also apply to KCCDC, which in 2026 offered 75% up to ₹3 lakh for food trucks.
Is Swavalambi Sarathi only for Muslims? No. The Quint and Factly checked this claim in 2023 and rated it false. The minority component covers all religious minorities, and SC, ST and backward classes have their own components through their corporations. A similar scheme also ran under the previous government.
What documents are needed? Aadhaar, caste and income certificate (RD number), driving licence (commercial / badge preferred), residence proof, bank passbook, passport photo, vehicle quotation from a dealer, and a self-declaration that you have not taken a corporation benefit before and are unemployed. Minorities add a minority / community certificate.
Swavalambi Sarathi in Kannada: what is it called and where do I apply? In Kannada it is ಸ್ವಾವಲಂಬಿ ಸಾರಥಿ ಯೋಜನೆ. You apply on Seva Sindhu (sevasindhu.karnataka.gov.in) or at Grama One / Karnataka One / Bangalore One centres; minorities also use the KMDC portal. Helpline numbers are on the corporation websites.
Can I get the subsidy for an auto-rickshaw or a food truck? Yes. A passenger auto-rickshaw gets up to ₹75,000 (KMDC notice). The Christian Community Development Corporation offered 75% of the cost up to ₹3 lakh for a new food truck / mobile kitchen in 2026 (age 21–45). Converting an old or used vehicle is not allowed.
Sources (checked 16 Oct 2026): Social Welfare Department, Govt of Karnataka, call for applications (@SWDGoK, Aug 2025; SC 75% up to ₹4 lakh, last date 10 Sep 2025); KMDC 2025 notice via AMK Resource Info (50% up to ₹3 lakh, auto ₹75,000, age 18–55, income below ₹6 lakh); Vikaspedia and govtschemes.in (SC/ST and backward-class components); Catholic Connect, 17 Aug 2026 (KCCDC food truck); 2026-27 dates: karnatakahelp.in, mastermitra.com, suddione.com (extension); fact-checks: The Quint, Factly. Official portals could not be opened from our network; figures come from search extracts of these pages. Estimate, not approval.
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