Maharashtra Leads India in Number of SC-Owned MSMEs

 According to recent data from the Office of the Development Commissioner in the Union Ministry of MSME, Maharashtra has the highest number of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) owned by entrepreneurs from the Scheduled Castes (SCs) with 96,805 enterprises. Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan follow in second and third place with 42,997 and 38,517 units respectively.

The Udyam system of registration, which came into force on July 1, 2020, is a pre-requisite for any MSME (regardless of the social category of ownership) to avail itself of concessions or benefits from the Central and State governments. The last date for migration to Udyam has been extended up to March 31, 2022.

The Udyam system is intended to be more streamlined than previous systems, with a provision for integration with the Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) and no room for duplication. This may be one reason for the variation in numbers of registered units in northern states.

Overall, the proportion of enterprises owned by SC entrepreneurs in the overall national tally of MSMEs is 6%. The Udyam system of registration is a significant step towards improving the representation and support of SC-owned businesses in India.

In conclusion, The data indicates that Maharashtra is leading in the number of SC-owned MSMEs, followed by Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan. The Udyam system of registration is helping to improve the representation and support of SC-owned businesses in India. The system is more streamlined than previous systems and helps to avoid duplication, this will be beneficial for the overall growth and development of these businesses.