New Delhi, Nov 2 (IANS): The Centre has extended the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) till November 30, or till such time that an amount of Rs 3 lakh crore is sanctioned under the scheme, whichever is earlier.

The decision has been taken in view of the opening up of various sectors in the economy and the expected increase in demand during the ongoing festive season, said an official statement.

This extension will provide a further opportunity to such borrowers who have not availed of the scheme so far, to obtain credit under the scheme, it added.

As per data uploaded by member lending institutions on the ECLGS portal, an amount of Rs 2.03 lakh crore has been sanctioned under the scheme to 60.67 lakh borrowers so far, while an amount of Rs 1.48 lakh crore has been disbursed.

The ECLGS was announced as part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat economic package to provide fully guaranteed and collateral free additional credit to MSMEs, business enterprises, individual loans for business purposes and MUDRA borrowers, to the extent of 20 per cent of their credit outstanding as on February 29 this year.

Borrowers with credit outstanding up to Rs 50 crore as on February 29, and with an annual turnover of up to Rs 250 crore are eligible under the scheme.

Interest rates under the scheme are capped at 9.25 per cent for banks and financial institutions, and 14 per cent for NBFCs. Tenor of loans provided under the scheme is four years, including a moratorium of one year on principle repayment.