Msmes

Concessional-duty SEZ sales may hurt MSMEs, distort competition: Report

The report cautions that easing domestic sales by SEZ units could undermine the export-focused framework, weaken MSMEs and distort competition unless accompanied by strict safeguards

Accessible childcare can unlock India's female workforce: UNDP India chief

UNDP India chief Angela Lusigi says reducing women's unpaid care burden through affordable childcare is key to boosting workforce participation and improving access to skilling

'Bundling of specialty, conventional fertilisers hurting MSMEs, innovation'

The practice of bundling soluble and specialty fertilisers with heavily subsidised conventional fertilisers such as urea is hurting innovation and pushing micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the sector towards collapse, according to Rajib Chakraborty, President of the Speciality Fertiliser Association of India (SFAI). In an interview to PTI, Chakraborty said that farmers, as well as the industry, are often placed in a difficult position by this practice, known in trade parlance as "tagging," in which dealers make the sale of subsidised urea conditional on the purchase of speciality products. He said the practice occurs at multiple levels -- company, distribution and dealer -- and has caused significant damage to the industry over the years. As a result, he said, new and improved fertiliser products developed by smaller companies are struggling to reach the market. "The newly invented products or augmented products are actually not reaching the dealer shelf," he said, add

Govt likely to interlink GeM, TReDS platforms for MSME financing

The Centre plans to integrate GeM with TReDS, enabling MSMEs to move seamlessly from government procurement to invoice financing and faster payments

Centre mandates TReDS route for CPSE purchases from MSMEs. What changes?

The Ministry of MSME said the change is intended to address the delayed payments faced by small businesses

Regulatory reforms can lift spice market to $13 bn by 2034: Icrier

An ICRIER policy brief says India's spices market could expand to nearly $13 billion by 2034 if regulatory gaps, testing inconsistencies and supply chain issues are addressed

Over 140K guarantees worth ₹1.55 trillion issued under ECLGS 5.0: Govt

The finance ministry said over 140,000 guarantees worth more than Rs 1.55 trillion have been issued under ECLGS 5.0, with MSMEs accounting for the overwhelming majority of beneficiaries

Over ₹1.55 trillion guarantee cover issued under ECLGS 5.0: FinMin

The Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) 5.0 has crossed 4.11 lakh guarantees to businesses affected by the West Asia geopolitical situation, with the guaranteed amount reaching over Rs 1.55 lakh crore, the finance ministry said on Tuesday. The scheme has benefited India's small businesses with 98 per cent of the total number of guarantees and 82 per cent of the total guaranteed amount going to MSMEs. "Since launch, 4,11,497 guarantees have been issued under ECLGS 5.0, with the guaranteed amount reaching Rs 1,55,229 crore - a sign of the scheme's rapid absorption across the lending ecosystem," the ministry said in a statement. The ECLGS 5.0 was approved by the Union Cabinet on May 5, 2026. The scheme aims to infuse additional credit of Rs 2.55 lakh crore to existing borrowers to tide over the liquidity challenges arising due to the West Asia crisis. As the scheme evolves and outreach expands, it is expected to further strengthen liquidity support for businesses, including

India's goods exports likely to cross $500 bn in FY27: Piyush Goyal

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal expects merchandise exports to grow 16-17 per cent and services exports 10-11 per cent, taking India's total exports close to the $1 trillion target

RBI flags nascent stress in micro enterprises; retail loans need monitoring

Financial Stability Report says banks face funding pressure as deposits shift to costlier sources, while larger housing loans gain share and household debt continues to rise

Axis MF unveils digital solution to unlock ₹25 trillion MSME opportunity

Asset manager launches Axis Account Plus, a digital treasury management solution that enables MSMEs to invest surplus working capital seamlessly in liquid and mutual fund schemes

Govt eyes export finance mechanism for MSMEs to bridge working capital gap

The proposed mechanism, to be explored with the Department of Financial Services and industry, aims to ease working capital pressures arising from long export payment cycles

Progcap looks to raise $45 million equity capital in FY28 to fuel growth

MSME fintech firm Progcap aims to raise up to USD 45 million (approximately Rs 425 crore) from share sales in FY28 to expand its lending business. "We are planning a capital raise through equity dilution next financial year," Progcap co-founder Himanshu Chandra told PTI. It would be through private placement of shares, and the quantum could be in the range of USD 40-45 million, depending on the valuation, he said. "We have enough capital to take care of growth needs for the current financial year. We may look at dilution of equity next financial year," he said, adding that the dilution would be in the single digit. The fintech firm, which obtained an NBFC licence in 2022, has been witnessing very high growth in MSME lending, especially wholesalers and retailers. The fintech is currently present in 500 cities, Tier II, III and IV cities, with over 30,000 borrowers having an average ticket size of Rs 10 lakh. The lending firm focuses on loans to retailers and wholesalers across 10

UP govt's new startup policy to back deep-tech, women entrepreneurs

Uttar Pradesh is drafting a new startup policy with incentives for deep-tech ventures, women-led firms and innovation-driven entrepreneurship

Stainless steel MSMEs seek quality control revival over rising imports

Over 100 MSME players of the stainless steel sector have urged the government to reintroduce the quality control order, citing a surge in Chinese imports after the order was revoked to ease the sourcing of raw material for domestic manufacturing. The steel ministry, through an order dated April 27, suspended the quality control order (QCO) that mandated the use of only BIS-certified items for various stainless steel products. The move was aimed at easing the compliance burden for local producers, especially micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). However, MSMEs of the stainless steel industry have raised concerns over the steep rise in imports of stainless products following the suspension of the QCO. "The suspension of QCO has opened the door for a surge of low-priced imports from China, placing domestic MSME manufacturers under severe pressure and threatening thousands of jobs and substantial investments made by Indian entrepreneurs," industry bodies Stainless Steel Induction

RBI eases MSME onboarding on TReDS, allows guarantee cover for financiers

Central bank consolidates TReDS regulations, eases MSME access and permits financiers to obtain credit guarantee cover on platform exposures

India's IBC gives lenders too much power, sidelines operational creditors

A basic principle of game theory separates the power to divide a pie from the power to choose a slice. The IBC collapses the two

Fisme flags impact on MSMEs from retail diesel curbs; to approach govt

Fisme plans to seek relief for micro and small enterprises, saying new restrictions on diesel purchases from retail outlets could disrupt operations of DG sets

India's FY26 GDP data: Resilience amid global turbulence, concerns remain

Strong services and manufacturing growth supported India's FY26 performance, but challenges around employment, inequality and regional disparities continue to weigh

MSME loan portfolio grows 12.8% Y-o-Y to Rs 46 trillion in April 2026

Outstanding MSME loans reached about Rs 46 trillion in April 2026, but portfolio growth and active loan additions slowed sharply as global uncertainty weighed on credit supply