My MUDRA loan was rejected by the bank. Should I file RTI with MUDRA/SIDBI or with the bank?

You should file RTI with the bank that rejected your loan — not with MUDRA or SIDBI. MUDRA (Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency) is a refinancing and policy body: it does not disburse loans directly to individual borrowers and it does not hold the appraisal records of individual loan applications. The credit decision — assessment, sanction, or rejection — is made entirely by the lending bank, regional rural bank, or NBFC. If your application was rejected by a nationalized bank or a public sector bank (such as State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Canara Bank, or Bank of Baroda), that bank is a public authority under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005 and must respond to your RTI within 30 days. RTI with the bank can obtain: the specific reason for rejection, the criterion applied (credit score threshold, documentation deficiency, income norms), and whether the reason was communicated in writing. If your lender is a private bank, NBFC, or microfinance institution (MFI), it is not a public authority under the RTI Act — use the bank's internal grievance redressal mechanism or the RBI Integrated Ombudsman Scheme at rbi.org.in. RTI with MUDRA/SIDBI is appropriate for scheme-level policy data — eligibility criteria guidelines, bank-wise disbursement statistics, NPA levels, and empanelment criteria.

What is the difference between MUDRA and PM SVANidhi, and can I use the same RTI for both?

MUDRA loans (Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, PMMY) and PM SVANidhi are two separate schemes with different nodal ministries and different target beneficiaries. MUDRA/PMMY, under the Ministry of Finance (administered through SIDBI and MUDRA), provides collateral-free loans to micro and small enterprises in three tiers: Shishu (up to ₹50,000), Kishore (₹50,001 to ₹5 lakh), and Tarun (₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh). PM SVANidhi (PM Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi), under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, is specifically for street vendors and provides loans of ₹10,000 (first), ₹20,000 (second), and ₹50,000 (third). However, SIDBI is the implementing agency for PM SVANidhi, and scheme-level data on PM SVANidhi fund utilisation and disbursements is held by SIDBI and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. For PM SVANidhi policy-level data (fund utilisation, SIDBI's role as implementing agency), RTI to SIDBI through rtionline.gov.in (Ministry of Finance → SIDBI) is appropriate. For individual vendor eligibility or Certificate of Vending status under PM SVANidhi, RTI should go to the Urban Local Body (ULB) or Municipal Corporation — which are State Government bodies with second appeal at the State Information Commission, not CIC. You can address both MUDRA/PMMY and PM SVANidhi SIDBI-level queries in the same RTI application to SIDBI if both fall within SIDBI's mandate.

Is MUDRA itself a public authority under the RTI Act? Who is the CPIO?

Yes. MUDRA (Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency Ltd.) was established in 2015 under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana as a wholly-owned subsidiary of SIDBI (Small Industries Development Bank of India), which itself is a Central Government statutory body under the Ministry of Finance. Both MUDRA and SIDBI are public authorities under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005, as they are substantially financed by and under the control of the Central Government. The designated CPIO for MUDRA/SIDBI is the Central Public Information Officer at SIDBI, 15, Ashok Marg, Lucknow – 226001. You can file an RTI with MUDRA/SIDBI online at rtionline.gov.in by selecting Ministry of Finance and then Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI). The second appeal for any RTI to MUDRA or SIDBI goes to the Central Information Commission (CIC), New Delhi — not to any State Information Commission.

What information can I realistically expect MUDRA/SIDBI to provide versus what they are likely to refuse?

MUDRA and SIDBI are likely to provide: scheme-level aggregate data such as total MUDRA loans sanctioned and disbursed nationally and state-wise by category; the policy guidelines and circulars issued to lending institutions on eligibility and underwriting norms; bank-wise or institution-wise aggregate disbursement data for PMMY; NPA figures aggregated by institution type; the list of empanelled lending partners; and PM SVANidhi fund utilisation figures at the SIDBI level. They are unlikely to provide: individual loan application records processed by third-party banks or NBFCs (since that information is not held by MUDRA/SIDBI); confidential commercial terms in bilateral agreements with specific lending institutions; or internal credit models of individual banks. If MUDRA/SIDBI claims information is not held by them, they are required under Section 6(3) of the RTI Act to transfer your application within five days to the appropriate authority (e.g., the concerned bank or NBFC) and inform you of the transfer. Information that relates to genuine trade secrets or commercial confidence of third parties may be protected under Section 8(1)(d) of the RTI Act, but aggregate scheme performance data is generally not exempt.

What if MUDRA/SIDBI or the nationalized bank does not respond to my RTI within 30 days?

If the CPIO of MUDRA/SIDBI or the nationalized bank does not respond within 30 days of receipt of your RTI application, file a First Appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at the concerned body within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. You can file the First Appeal online at rtionline.gov.in using your registration number. If the FAA also does not respond or the response is incomplete or unsatisfactory, file a Second Appeal with the Central Information Commission (CIC) under Section 19(3) within 90 days of the FAA order (or its non-receipt). MUDRA, SIDBI, and all nationalized banks are Central Government bodies or Central Government-owned entities — the second appeal goes to the CIC in all cases, not to any State Information Commission. File the second appeal at cic.gov.in. The CIC may impose a penalty of up to ₹25,000 on a CPIO who wilfully withholds information or does not respond without reasonable cause, under Section 20 of the RTI Act.

Home/Guides/How to File RTI for MUDRA Loan and PM SVANidhi Microfinance — Rejection, Disbursement Data and NPA Statistics

Central Government

How to File RTI for MUDRA Loan and PM SVANidhi Microfinance — Rejection, Disbursement Data and NPA Statistics

Step-by-step guide to file an RTI with MUDRA / SIDBI or a nationalized bank for MUDRA loan (Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana) rejection reasons, bank-wise disbursement statistics, eligibility and NPA data, PM SVANidhi fund utilisation, and lending institution empanelment criteria. MUDRA and SIDBI are Central Government bodies; second appeal goes to CIC. Includes a ready-to-use sample RTI draft.

Updated 1 Jun 2026

Quick Facts

MinistryMinistry of Finance

Address RTI ToCPIO, MUDRA / Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), 15, Ashok Marg, Lucknow – 226001

Application Fee₹10 under RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. Free for BPL cardholders.

Response Time30 days from receipt (Section 7(1), RTI Act 2005). 48 hours if the matter involves life or liberty.

File Online Athttps://rtionline.gov.in

All information on this page is based on the Right to Information Act, 2005 (Act No. 22 of 2005) and the RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. First Appeal: Section 19(1). Second Appeal to CIC/SIC: Section 19(3).

MUDRA (Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency Ltd.) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SIDBI (Small Industries Development Bank of India) under the Ministry of Finance, established in 2015 to implement the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY). MUDRA does not lend directly to individual borrowers; it refinances banks, regional rural banks (RRBs), microfinance institutions (MFIs), and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) that in turn disburse collateral-free micro loans to small entrepreneurs in three tiers: Shishu (up to ₹50,000), Kishore (₹50,001 to ₹5 lakh), and Tarun (₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh).

SIDBI also serves as the implementing agency for PM SVANidhi (PM Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi), a separate microfinance scheme under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for street vendors. Both MUDRA and SIDBI are public authorities under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005, as they are statutory bodies substantially financed by and under the control of the Central Government.

Small entrepreneurs whose MUDRA loan applications were rejected or delayed, civil society researchers seeking scheme performance data, or applicants querying PM SVANidhi fund utilisation can use RTI to obtain eligibility criteria policy, bank-wise disbursement data, NPA statistics, and implementing agency records — as long as the RTI is directed to the correct body.

MUDRA Ecosystem: Which Body Holds What Information

Body	Role	What RTI Can Obtain	Second Appeal
MUDRA / SIDBI	Refinancing agency; sets PMMY scheme parameters; monitors aggregate performance	Scheme guidelines, eligibility/rejection criteria circulars, bank-wise disbursement data, NPA statistics, empanelled lender list	CIC
SIDBI (PM SVANidhi)	Implementing agency for PM SVANidhi	Fund allocation vs. utilisation, total loans sanctioned/disbursed nationally and state-wise	CIC
Nationalized bank / PSU bank	Credit appraisal and disbursement at the branch level	Specific reason for loan rejection, criteria applied, date of decision, whether reason was communicated in writing	CIC
Regional Rural Bank (RRB)	Disbursement in rural areas	Same as nationalized banks — specific loan decision records	CIC
Private bank / NBFC / MFI	Disbursement — not a public authority	Not covered by RTI Act; use RBI Integrated Ombudsman Scheme	N/A
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs	Policy and oversight of PM SVANidhi scheme	Scheme design, national disbursement data, MoHUA circulars on PM SVANidhi	CIC

The key distinction for individual applicants: MUDRA/SIDBI holds policy-level data; the individual bank branch holds your loan application records. A single RTI cannot serve both purposes — file with the bank for your personal rejection reason, and file with MUDRA/SIDBI for scheme-level statistics and policy guidelines.

RTI for Individual Loan Decisions vs. Scheme-Level Data

Individual Loan Applicants — File with the Bank

If your MUDRA loan application was rejected or delayed by a specific bank, RTI must go to that bank's designated CPIO. Nationalized banks and public sector banks are public authorities under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act. Ask for:

The specific reason(s) for rejection of the application bearing reference number XXX, filed on Date
The criterion applied — credit score threshold, income requirement, documentation deficiency, or business viability assessment
The internal circular or policy of the bank under which the rejection was made
Whether the rejection reason was communicated in writing to the applicant, and on what date

Important: Private banks, NBFCs, and microfinance institutions are not public authorities under the RTI Act. For rejection by these entities, use the bank's internal grievance redressal officer, the Banking Ombudsman, or the RBI Integrated Ombudsman Scheme.

Scheme-Level Researchers, Activists, or Policy Queries — File with MUDRA/SIDBI

RTI to MUDRA or SIDBI (through rtionline.gov.in → Ministry of Finance → SIDBI) is appropriate for:

Bank-wise and state-wise PMMY disbursement statistics
MUDRA's eligibility and underwriting guidelines issued to lending institutions
Gross NPA levels under the PMMY portfolio by category and institution type
PM SVANidhi fund allocation and utilisation figures
Criteria and process for empanelling lending institutions as PMMY partners

Common RTI Use Cases

Issue	RTI Filed With	What to Ask	Realistic Expectation
MUDRA Shishu loan rejected, no reason given	Nationalized / PSU bank branch	Rejection reason, criterion applied, internal policy provision	Bank must state the specific ground; useful to identify fixable deficiency
Bank charged higher interest than MUDRA rate	Bank + MUDRA/SIDBI	Interest rate applied vs. MUDRA prescribed cap; bank's internal rate circular	Documents overcharging; basis for complaint to RBI
State-wise / bank-wise MUDRA disbursement data	MUDRA / SIDBI	Bank-wise loans sanctioned and disbursed in State for FY by Shishu/Kishore/Tarun	Aggregate data routinely available; SIDBI should provide
MUDRA NPA levels (for research / journalism)	MUDRA / SIDBI	Gross NPA by loan category and by institution type for most recent FY	Aggregate NPA data available at SIDBI level
PM SVANidhi fund utilisation at SIDBI level	SIDBI	Funds allocated vs. utilised; unspent funds if any	SIDBI should disclose as implementing agency
Empanelment criteria for lending partners	MUDRA / SIDBI	Eligibility criteria for empanelment; list of empanelled lenders	Policy documents and lender list generally disclosable
PM SVANidhi individual vendor eligibility or CoV	Urban Local Body / Municipal Corporation	Survey list status, Certificate of Vending, TVC records	State-level authority; second appeal: State SIC — not CIC

Where to File

For MUDRA / SIDBI (Scheme-Level Policy and Data Queries)

File at rtionline.gov.in:

Log in or register at rtionline.gov.in
Select Ministry of Finance
Select Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) (MUDRA operates under SIDBI; select SIDBI for both MUDRA and PM SVANidhi queries)
Draft your application with specific information points; include the financial year(s) you are asking about
Pay ₹10 online. BPL cardholders are exempt — attach a copy of your BPL card
Submit and note your registration number for tracking and appeals

Physical filing: Send a written application by registered post to CPIO, SIDBI, 15, Ashok Marg, Lucknow – 226001, with a ₹10 Indian Postal Order.

For a Nationalized Bank (Individual Loan Rejection)

Most nationalized banks participate in rtionline.gov.in. Alternatively, you may file a physical RTI to the Designated CPIO at the bank's Head Office or the Regional Office that oversees your branch. Send by registered post with a ₹10 Indian Postal Order. The bank must respond within 30 days.

Note on PM SVANidhi individual queries: For individual street vendor queries under PM SVANidhi — survey list eligibility, Certificate of Vending status, Town Vending Committee records — RTI must go to the relevant Urban Local Body (ULB) or Municipal Corporation through the state's RTI portal, not to SIDBI. These are State Government authorities; their second appeal goes to the State Information Commission (SIC), not the CIC.

Appeals

First Appeal (Section 19(1)): If the CPIO of MUDRA/SIDBI or the nationalized bank does not respond within 30 days, or the response is incomplete or unsatisfactory, file a First Appeal with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at the same body within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. You can file the First Appeal online at rtionline.gov.in using your registration number.

Second Appeal (Section 19(3)): File with the Central Information Commission (CIC), New Delhi, within 90 days of the FAA order (or its non-receipt). MUDRA, SIDBI, and all nationalized and public sector banks are Central Government bodies or Central Government-owned entities — the second appeal goes to the CIC in all cases, not to any State Information Commission. File at cic.gov.in. Under Section 20 of the RTI Act, the CIC may impose a penalty of up to ₹25,000 on a CPIO for wilful non-disclosure or delay without reasonable cause.

Sample RTI Application Draft

To,
The Central Public Information Officer (CPIO),
Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency (MUDRA) / SIDBI,
15, Ashok Marg, Lucknow – 226001
[OR: CPIO, [Name of Nationalized Bank], [Branch / Head Office Address]
 — choose the body relevant to your query]

Subject: Application under the Right to Information Act, 2005 — MUDRA Loan Disbursement Statistics, Eligibility / Rejection Criteria Policy, NPA Levels, PM SVANidhi Fund Utilisation, and Lending Institution Empanelment Criteria

Sir/Madam,

I, [Your Full Name], [micro entrepreneur / street vendor / applicant], residing at [Your Full Address], submit this application under Section 6 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 to seek the following information relating to the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) and PM SVANidhi scheme:

Application / Account details (as applicable):
  Name of Applicant: [Your Full Name]
  Loan Application Reference Number: [if available]
  Bank / MFI / NBFC Name and Branch: [Name of lending institution, if applicable]
  Date of Application: [DD/MM/YYYY, if applicable]
  Mudra Loan Category Applied For: [Shishu / Kishore / Tarun]
  PM SVANidhi Loan Type (if applicable): [First loan ₹10,000 / Second loan ₹20,000 / Third loan ₹50,000]

Information sought:

1. The total number and aggregate value of MUDRA loans (broken down into Shishu, Kishore, and Tarun categories) sanctioned and disbursed nationally and in the state of [State Name] for the financial year [YYYY–YY], as maintained by MUDRA / SIDBI in its capacity as the refinancing and monitoring agency for the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana.

2. The bank-wise (or lending institution-wise) breakdown of MUDRA loans sanctioned and disbursed in [State Name] for the financial year [YYYY–YY] — specifically, the number of loans and total amount disbursed by each scheduled commercial bank, regional rural bank (RRB), microfinance institution (MFI), and NBFC that is an empanelled lending partner under PMMY.

3. The eligibility criteria and underwriting policy guidelines issued by MUDRA to lending institutions for each MUDRA loan category (Shishu, Kishore, Tarun) — including the minimum and maximum loan amounts, the nature of business/enterprise eligible, the documentation requirements, and any income or creditworthiness norms prescribed by MUDRA / SIDBI in the scheme framework.

4. Whether MUDRA has issued any circular, guideline, or instruction to lending institutions specifying the grounds on which a MUDRA loan application may be rejected — and if so, a copy of the relevant circular(s) or guideline(s) currently in force, particularly the minimum standards applicable to Shishu category borrowers.

5. The gross NPA (Non-Performing Assets) levels under the MUDRA / PMMY portfolio — broken down by loan category (Shishu, Kishore, Tarun) and by type of lending institution (scheduled commercial banks, RRBs, MFIs, NBFCs) — for the most recent financial year for which data is available with MUDRA / SIDBI.

6. Whether PM SVANidhi (PM Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi) loans are reported to and monitored by MUDRA / SIDBI in its capacity as implementing agency — and if so:
   (a) The total number and aggregate value of PM SVANidhi loans sanctioned and disbursed nationally and in [State Name] for the financial year [YYYY–YY];
   (b) The total funds allocated to SIDBI for implementing PM SVANidhi and the funds utilised as of the most recent available date;
   (c) Whether any funds remain unspent or have lapsed, and the reason.

7. The criteria and process by which lending institutions (banks, MFIs, NBFCs) are empanelled as PMMY lending partners by MUDRA / SIDBI — including the minimum eligibility criteria, the application process, and whether a list of currently empanelled lending institutions is publicly available; if so, a copy of the current empanelled lender list.

I am enclosing the application fee of Rs. 10 [via online payment; Reference No.: [Payment Ref]].

I request the above information within 30 days as required under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Full Name]
[Your Complete Address]
Phone: [Your 10-digit Mobile Number]
Email: [[email protected]]
Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]

---

Alternative — for a nationalized bank (specific loan rejection):

To,
The Central Public Information Officer (CPIO),
[Name of Bank — e.g., State Bank of India / Punjab National Bank / Bank of Baroda],
[Branch Address / Regional Office Address]

Subject: Application under the Right to Information Act, 2005 — MUDRA Loan Application Rejection Reason and Criteria Applied

Sir/Madam,

I submit this application under Section 6 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 to seek the following information relating to my MUDRA loan application:

Loan application details:
  Applicant Name: [Your Full Name]
  Application Reference Number: [if available]
  Branch Name and Code: [Branch where application was submitted]
  Date of Application: [DD/MM/YYYY]
  Loan Category: [Shishu / Kishore / Tarun]
  Loan Amount Applied For: [Amount in rupees]

Information sought:

1. Whether the MUDRA loan application referenced above was received, registered, and appraised by this bank — the date of receipt, the date of appraisal, and the date of final decision (sanction or rejection).

2. The specific reason(s) for which the above loan application was rejected — including the criterion applied (e.g., credit score, income proof, business viability, documentation deficiency, or any other) and the internal policy or circular of this bank under which the rejection was made.

3. The minimum credit score / CIBIL score requirement, if any, prescribed by this bank for MUDRA Shishu / Kishore / Tarun loan applicants — and whether the application of [Applicant Name] was rejected on the basis of credit score.

4. Whether the branch communicated the reason for rejection in writing to the applicant — and if so, the date of such communication and the mode (letter / SMS / portal notification).

I am enclosing the application fee of Rs. 10 [via online payment; Reference No.: [Payment Ref]].

Yours sincerely,

[Your Full Name]
[Your Complete Address]
Phone: [Your 10-digit Mobile Number]
Email: [[email protected]]
Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]

Replace all text in [square brackets] with your actual details before filing. Do not include the brackets in your submission.

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