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:

Existing MSME Classification

·        For Enterprises engaged in the manufacture or production, processing or preservation of goods as specified below:

·        For 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.

Revised MSME Classification- Composite Criteria

·        For Enterprises engaged in the manufacturing and services as specified below:

FAQ

Q.1. 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.

Q.2. 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.

Q.3. 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, counselling, motivation and trust building, exposure visits, market development including exports, participation in seminars, workshops and training programmes on technology upgradation etc; Hard Interventions ilike setting up of Common Facility Center’s (Common Production/Processing Centre, Design Centre, Testing Centre etc.) and creation/upgradation of infrastructural facilities in the new/existing industrial areas/ clusters of MSEs.

Q.4. 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 Programme (EDP), Six Week Entrepreneurship Skill Development Programme (ESDP). One weak Management Development Programme (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.

Q.5. What benefits do the Tool Rooms of Ministry of MSME provide to MSMEs?

Tool Rooms are equipped with state-of-the-art machinery & equipment. They are engaged in designing and manufacturing of quality tools, which are necessary for producing quality products, and improve the competitiveness of MSMEs in national and international markets. They also conduct training programmes to provide skilled manpower to industries specially MSMEs. The placement of trainees trained in Tool Room is more than 90%. There are 18 Autonomous Bodies (10 MSME Tool Rooms and 8 Technology Development Centres) under DC (MSME), a list of Tool Rooms and Technology Development Centres is available in the website. 

Q.6. What support is provided by the Ministry for improving manufacturing competitiveness?

The National Manufacturing Competitiveness Programme (NMCP) is the nodal programme of the Government to develop global competitiveness among Indian MSMEs. The Programme was initiated in 2007-08. This programme targets at enhancing the entire value chain of the MSME sector through the following schemes:(a) Lean Manufacturing Competitiveness Scheme for MSMEs;(b) Promotion of Information & Communication Tools (ICT) in MSME sector;(c) Technology and Quality Up gradation Support to MSMEs;(d) Design Clinics scheme for MSMEs;(e) Enabling Manufacturing Sector to be Competitive through Quality Management Standards (QMS) and Quality Technology Tools (QTT);(f) Marketing Assistance and Technology Up gradation Scheme for MSMEs;(g) Setting up of Mini Tool Room under PPP Mode;(h) National campaign for building awareness on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR);(i) Support for Entrepreneurial and Managerial Development of SMEs through Incubators.(j) Bar Code under Market Development Assistance (MDA) scheme. .

Q.7. 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.

Q.8. 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.

Q.9. What support is provided by the Ministry to improve design of products produced in MSME sector?

The Ministry implements the Design Clinic Scheme for Design Expertise to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Sector is to improve the design of the product to meet global challenges and compete with similar products domestically and internationally. It is launched to benefit MSMEs by creating a dynamic platform to provide expert solutions to real time Design problems and add value to existing products. The goal of this scheme is to help MSME manufacturing industries move up the value chain by switching the production mode from original equipment manufacturing to original design manufacturing and hence original brand manufacturing. In the Design Clinic scheme, the value additions to an idea or a concept are imparted through interaction at a lesser cost to a specific industry/sector. The expected outcome of such interventions is new product development by design improvement and value addition for existing products.

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