Minority Affairs Minister Dr. Najma Heptulla today said the Startup India programme has been launched to build a strong eco-system for nurturing innovation and Startups in the country. Replying to supplementaries in the Lok Sabha Dr. Heptulla said the programme aims at empowering Startups to grow through innovation and design. She said the government will provide financial support to young scientists for purchasing equipment for innovation under it.<br/><br/>The Minister also informed that Stand Up India scheme which was launched on 5th of this month aims at facilitating bank loans to persons belonging to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and women for setting up a Greenfield enterprise in trading in services and manufacturing. <br/><br/>She said under this programme, loans in the range of 10 lakh to one crore rupees are being provided. The Minister also informed that the corpus of National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation has been doubled to 3000 crores rupees.