India, Sept. 11 -- LUCKNOW Ahead of the 2027 assembly elections, the Uttar Pradesh government is preparing to launch the Mahila Udyami Credit Yojana to provide interest-free loans of up to Rs.1 lakh to around 10 million women to help them start or expand small businesses, deputy chief minister and rural development minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said.

The proposed scheme will cover women associated with self-help groups under the Uttar Pradesh State Rural Livelihood Mission (UPSRLM) and the loans will be provided in three stages, with the total assistance going up to Rs.1 lakh, he said.

"The first loan is expected to be Rs.20,000. Women who repay it on time will be eligible for a second loan of Rs.30,000, followed by a third tranche of R...