What are MSMEs (Micro Small and Medium Enterprises)?

Definition Of MSME 

The Government of India has enacted the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act, 2006 in terms of which the definition of micro, small and medium enterprises is as under:

• Enterprises engaged in the manufacture or production, processing or preservation of goods as specified below:
  • A micro enterprise is an enterprise where investment in Plant & Machiney does not exceed Rs. 1 Crore and Turnover does not exceed Rs. 5 Crore;
  • A small enterprise is an enterprise where investment in Plant & Machiney does not exceed Rs. 10 Crore and Turnover does not exceed Rs. 50 Crore;
  • A medium enterprise is an enterprise where investment in Plant & Machiney does not exceed Rs. 20 Crore and Turnover does not exceed Rs. 100 Crore;
    In case of the above enterprises, investment in plant and machinery is the original cost excluding land and building and the items specified by the Ministry of Small Scale Industries vide its notification  No S.O.1722(E) dated October 05,2006.
• Enterprises engaged in providing or rendering of services and whose investment in equipment (original cost excluding land and building and furniture, fittings and other items not directly related to the service rendered or as may be notified under the MSMED Act, 2006 are specified below.
  • A micro enterprise is an enterprise where the investment in equipment does not exceed Rs. 1 Crore and Turnover does not exceed Rs. 5 Crore;
  • A small enterprise is an enterprise where the investment in equipment does not exceed Rs. 10 Crore and Turnover does not exceed Rs. 50 Crore;
  • A medium enterprise is an enterprise where the investment in equipment does not exceed Rs. 20 Crore and Turnover does not exceed Rs. 100 Crore;

What is the support available for collateral free borrowing?

The Ministry of MSME, Government of India and SIDBI set up the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) with a view to facilitate flow of credit to the MSE sector without the need for collaterals/ third party guarantees. The main objective of the scheme is that the lender should give importance to project viability and secure the credit facility purely on the primary security of the assets financed.The Credit Guarantee scheme (CGS) seeks to reassure the lender that, in the event of an MSE unit, which availed collateral- free credit facilities, fails to discharge its liabilities to the lender, the Guarantee Trust would make good the loss incurred by the lender up to 85 per cent of the outstanding amount in default. The CGTMSE would provide cover for credit facility up to Rs. 100 lakh which have been extended by lending institutions without any collateral security and /or third party guarantees. A guarantee and annual service fee is charged by the CGTMSE to avail of the guarantee cover. Presently the guarantee fee and annual service charges are to be borne by the borrower.

What is the support available for technology upgradation?

Ministry implements a scheme called Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme (CLCSS) for technology upgradation of Micro and Small enterprises in the country. Under the scheme, 15 per cent capital subsidy, limited to maximum of Rs 15 lakh (12 per cent prior to 29.09.2005 limited to maximum of Rs 4.8 lakh) is provided to the eligible MSEs for upgrading their technology with the well-established and improved technology as approved under the scheme. 48 products/sub-sectors have been approved under the CLCSS till date. If you are an MSE manufacturing a product and want to upgrade the technology of manufacturing the product with the well established and improved technology as approved under the Scheme, then you may have to approach to the nodal agencies/eligible financial institution for sanction of term loan for purchase of eligible machinery.

What is the support available for cluster development?

The Ministry is implementing the Micro and Small Enterprises - Cluster Development Programme (MSE-CDP) wherein support is provided for Diagnostic Study; Soft Interventions like general awareness, counseling, motivation and trust building, exposure visits, market development including exports, participation in seminars, workshops and training programmes on technology upgradaion etc; Hard Interventions like setting up of Common Facility Centers (Common Production/Processing Centre, Design Centre, Testing Centre etc.) and creation/upgradation of infrastructural facilities in the new/existing industrial areas/ clusters of MSEs.

What is the support available for Skill Development?

The Ministry conducts various types of training programme through its various organisations for self employment as well as wage employment. The training programmes are primarily focused to promote self employment in the country. Thus all type of programmes have input which provide necessary information and skills to a trainee to enable him to establish his own micro or a small enterprises. The programmes include two week Entrepreneurship Development Prorgamme (EDP), Six Week Entrepreneurship Skill Development Programme (ESDP). One weak Management Development Prorgamme (MDP), One Day Industrial Motivation Campaign(IMC) etc. For Monitoring of the programme a web based system has been developed where coordinator of the programme is bound to feed all details of trainees including his photo and phone no. on the website. The same will be linked to the call centre of Ministry where real time feedback is obtained from trainees.

What support is provided by the Ministry to promote energy conservation in the manufacturing process for SMEs?

The Ministry implements the 'Technology and Quality Upgradation Support to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (TEQUP)” which focuses on two important aspects, namely, enhancing competitiveness of MSME sector through Energy Efficiency and Product Quality Certification. The basic objective of this scheme is to encourage MSMEs in adopting energy efficient technologies and to improve product quality of manufacturing in MSMEs. It is a well known fact that energy consumption is a significant component in the cost structure of almost any manufacturing/ production activity. Adopting energy efficient technologies curtails the cost of energy there by reducing production cost and increasing competitiveness. Under this scheme, a capital subsidy of 25% of the project cost subject to a maximum of Rs. 10.00 lakh shall be provided to the registered MSME units. While 25% of the project cost will be provided as subsidy by the Government of India, the balance amount is to be funded through loan from SIDBI/banks/financial institutions. The minimum contribution as required by the funding agency will have to be made by the MSME unit.

What support is provided by the Ministry to improve quality of products produced in MSME sector?

The TEQUP scheme envisages another activity, namely, Product Quality Certification. The main objective of this scheme is to encourage MSMEs to Acquire Product Certification Licenses from National / International Bodies , thereby improving their competitiveness. The primary objective of this activity is to provide subsidy to MSME units towards the expenditure incurred by them for obtaining product certification licenses from National / International standardization Bodies. Under this Activity, MSME manufacturing units will be provided subsidy to the extent of 75% of the actual expenditure, towards licensing of product to National/International Standards. The maximum GOI assistance allowed per MSME is Rs.1.5 lakh for obtaining product licensing /Marking to National Standards and Rs. 2.0 lakh for obtaining product licensing /Marking to International standards. One MSME unit can apply only once under the scheme period.

BENEFITS OF MSME REGISTRATION IN INDIA 

The Indian government has always been in favor of providing benefits to Micro , Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME's) . There are many advantages of obtaining MSME registration in India, which can be only availed if the business had registered itself as an MSME/SSI under MSME Act. The following are a few advantages or obtaining SSI/MSME registration in India:

1. Collateral Free BANK LOAN 

The Government of India has made collateral-free credit available to all small and micro business sectors. This initiative guarantees funds to micro and small sector enterprises. Under this scheme, both the old as well as the new enterprises can claim the benefits. A trust named The Credit Guarantee Trust Fund Scheme was introduced by the GOI(Government Of India), SIDBI(Small Industries Development Bank Of India) and the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise to make sure this scheme is implemented (Credit Guarantee Scheme) for all Micro and Small Enterprise.

2. Subsidy on PATENT REGISTRATION 

A hefty 50% subsidy is given to the Enterprise that has the certificate of registration granted by MSME. This subsidy can be availed for patent registration by giving application to respective ministry.

3. Overdraft Interest Rate Exemption 

Businesses or enterprises registered under MSME can avail a benefit of 1% on the Over Draft as mentioned in a scheme that differs from bank to bank.

4. Industrial Promotion Subsidy Eligibility

Enterprises registered under MSME are also eligible for a subsidy for Industrial Promotion as suggested by the Government.

5. Protection against Delayed Payments 

At times, the buyers of services or products from the MSME’s or SSIs tend to delay the payment. The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise lend a helping hand to such enterprises by giving them the right to collect interest on the payments that are delayed from the buyer’s side. The settlement of such disputes must be done in minimum time through conciliation and arbitration.

In case, if any MSME registered enterprise supplies any goods or services to a buyer then the buyer is required to make the payment on or before the agreed date of payment or within 15 days from the day they had accepted the goods and services from MSME or SCI registered business( if there is no mention of the date of payment).

If the buyer delays the payment for more than 45 days after accepting the products or services then the buyer has to pay compound interest along with interests (monthly) on the amount that was agreed to be paid. The interest rate is three times the rate that is notified by the Reserve Bank of India.

6. Benefits Of Electricity Bills 

This concession is available to all the Enterprises that have the MSME Registration Certificate by providing an application to the department of the electricity along with the certificate of registration by MSME.

7. Reimbursement of ISO Certification Charges

The registered MSME enterprises can claim the reimbursement of the expenses that were spent for the ISO certification.

CONCLUSION 

MSME’s are rapidly growing with regular support from the government and youths who are inspired and bold enough to start their own venture. Therefore, knowledge about the registration process and its benefits is an absolute must in order to give a boost to the entrepreneurial spirit of MSME & SSI founders. We hope this article helps all of those who might have had any confusion related to the benefits of MSME registration in India and also to those who are willing to jump into an entrepreneur role or are having a Micro, Small to Medium scale business. Business Escalators are the best when it comes to MSME registration online and in providing all type of Startup, GST, MSME, legal and Accounting Support services too. So contact us and please feel free to mention in the comments section if we have missed any benefits Of MSME registration in India.

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