On May 13th, 2020, an announcement was made in the Atmnirbhar Bharat Package regarding a revision in the definition of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises(MSME). Once the package was reported, numerous representations were made for the upward revision of the definition of MSME. The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises considered it under gazette notification that was dated June 1st, 2020 and announced an upward criteria and definition of the MSME. The new report and criterion of the MSME came into effect on July 1st, 2020.
A gist of the important notifications that were made by the MInistry of MSME under the gazette notification are listed below:
The changes that have been made in the definition of MSME recently were part of the Atmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan relief package. The amount of turnover and investment have been changed to significant values as depicted below:
Composite Criteria: Investment in Machinery and Plants |
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S. No. |
Types of Organisations |
Investment in Plant and Machinery or Equipment |
Turnover |
1 |
Micro Enterprises |
Up to Rs. 1 Cr. |
Less than Rs. 5 Cr. |
2 |
Small Enterprises |
Up to Rs. 10 Cr. |
Less than Rs. 50 Cr. |
3 |
Medium Enterprises |
Up to Rs. 50 Cr. |
Less than Rs. 250 Cr. |
The following are the reasons for the revised criteria for the categorisation of MSME:
After 14 years from the introduction of MSME Development Act, a revised definition was introduced by the government in the Atmnirbhar Bharat package on May 13, 2020 in order to bring more units under the influence of the announced schemes. According to this package, the combined criteria are investment and turnover for defining the MSME. The difference between the service-sector and manufacturing-sector have also been eradicated.
In order to get a better understanding, then look at the following table:
Composite Criteria: Investment in Machinery and Plant Turnover |
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S. No. |
Types of Organisations |
Investment in Plant and Machinery or Equipment |
Turnover |
1 |
Micro Enterprises |
Up to Rs. 1 Cr. |
Less than Rs. 5 Cr. |
2 |
Small Enterprises |
Up to Rs. 10 Cr. |
Less than Rs. 50 Cr. |
3 |
Medium Enterprises |
Up to Rs. 20 Cr. |
Less than Rs. 100 Cr. |
The previously existing criterion of the Ministry of MSMEs is based on the MSME Development Act. This act was introduced in the year 2006. The MSMEs are categorised on the basis of investment made in the plant and machinery and were different from the services and manufacturing units. According to the MSMED Act, 2006, the MSMEs are categorised into two categories:
Composite Criteria: Investment in Machinery and Plant |
|||
S. No. |
Types of Organisations |
Investment in Plant and Machinery or Equipment |
Turnover |
1 |
Micro Enterprises |
Less than or equal to Rs. 25 lakhs |
Less than or equal to Rs. 10 Cr. |
2 |
Small Enterprises |
Rs. 25 Lakhs – Rs. 5 Crore |
Rs. 10 Lakhs to Rs. 2 Crore |
3 |
Medium Enterprises |
Rs. 5 Crore to Rs. 10 Crore |
Rs. 2 Crore to Rs. 5 Crore |