The Government of India simplified the process of registration of MSMEs by replacing the Udyog Aadhaar Memorandum (UAM) with Udyam Registration (UR) on 1st July 2020. UR is free of cost, transparent, online, hassle free and is based on self-declaration. It does not require any documents and has an automatic integration with ITR and GSTIN. During the second wave of Covid -19 pandemic MSMEs continued to register on UR Portal.
MSMEs can avail the benefits of schemes such as Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP)/Rural Employment Generation Programme (REGP)/Micro Units Development & Refinance Agency (MUDRA) and the announcements made to provide relief to MSMEs from the problems faced due to COVID-19 pandemic. The number of Projects and Employment generation under PMEGP during 2020-21 in July, 2021 are 91,054 and 7,28,432, respectively.
The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) does not set-up any MSME in any state including Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. The MSME sector consists of private players and the investments in this sector are made by the entrepreneurs themselves. Promotion and development of enterprises is a State subject. However, the Central Government supplements the efforts of the State/UT Governments through various schemes, programmes and policy initiatives for promotion, development and enhancing the competitiveness of MSMEs in the country.
A number of schemes are being implemented by Ministry of MSME for MSMEs, including Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), Credit Linked Capital Subsidy for Technology Upgradation Scheme (CLCS-TUS), Schemes for Khadi & Village Industries and Coir, International Cooperation Scheme, Procurement and Marketing Support Scheme, Scheme for Credit Guarantee Fund for Micro and Small Enterprises, National SC/ST Hub etc. Benefits under these schemes are available to all eligible MSMEs, including those belonging to SC and ST communities. The Public Procurement Policy for Micro and Small Enterprises Order 2012 mandates 4% procurement from SC/ST owned MSEs and 3% from women owned MSEs.