**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3, to be answered on January 29, 2026, regarding women-led Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). It provides data on the number of women-led MSMEs registered in India, Tamil Nadu, and Karur district over the past five years, and outlines various government initiatives to support women entrepreneurs. The document covers the period from July 1, 2020, to January 25, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **MSME Registration Data:**
* As of January 25, 2026, a total of 2.94 crore women-led MSMEs are registered in India through the Udyam Registration Portal and Udyam Assist Platform.
* The number of women-led MSMEs registered in All India, Tamil Nadu and Karur district during the last five years is listed in the document.
* **Government Initiatives to Support Women Entrepreneurs:**
* **Udyam Registration (UR) and Udyam Assist Portals (UAP):** Special drives are conducted for registration of women-owned MSMEs on these portals.
* **Public Procurement Policy:** 3% of annual procurement by CPSEs/Ministries/Departments must be from women-owned micro and small enterprises.
* **Credit Guarantee Scheme (CGS):**
* Guarantee coverage of up to 90% is provided to micro and small women entrepreneurs (effective from December 1, 2022), compared to 75% for others.
* A 10% concession is offered on annual guarantee fees.
* Details of guarantees approved for women-led MSEs in Tamil Nadu are provided.
* A credit facility up to 20 lakh is guaranteed with an extent of coverage of 85%.
* **Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP):**
* This credit-linked subsidy program aims to generate self-employment opportunities.
* 39% of PMEGP beneficiaries are women, who receive a higher subsidy (35%) compared to the non-special category (up to 25%).
* Number of Women Entrepreneurs assisted under PMEGP in the State of Tamil Nadu and in Karur district of Tamil Nadu are listed in the document.
* **Skill Upgradation and Mahila Coir Yojana:** This exclusive training program under Coir Vikas Yojana focuses on skill development for women artisans in the Coir sector.
* **Procurement and Marketing Support Scheme:** Participation of women entrepreneurs in trade fairs is subsidized to the extent of 100%, compared to 80% for other entrepreneurs.
* **PM Vishwakarma Scheme:** Launched on September 17, 2023, this scheme provides benefits to traditional artisans and craftspeople, including women, in 18 trades.
* **Yashasvini Campaign:** An awareness campaign launched to educate existing and aspiring women entrepreneurs about MSME schemes, providing support through handholding, mentorship, and capacity building.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Women Entrepreneurs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises)**
* **Impact:** Increased access to registration, financial assistance, market opportunities, skill development, and overall support for starting and growing their businesses. They benefit from targeted schemes, subsidies, and training programs.
* **Action Required:** Participate in registration drives, avail financial assistance under relevant schemes, engage in training programs, and leverage available support mechanisms like mentorship and capacity building.
**Stakeholder: Government (Ministry of MSME and related departments)**
* **Impact:** Required to implement and monitor various schemes and policies aimed at promoting women entrepreneurship. Also, required to track the progress of women-led MSMEs and the effectiveness of the implemented initiatives.
* **Action Required:** Continue special drives for registration of women-owned MSMEs, continue facilitating access to finance via credit guarantee scheme, create awareness about the benefits of schemes and provide skill upgradation training.
**Stakeholder: Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) / Ministries / Departments**
* **Impact:** Required to allocate 3% of their annual procurement to women-owned micro and small enterprises.
* **Action Required:** Implement measures to ensure compliance with the 3% procurement target for women-owned MSMEs.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises: The primary ministry responsible for the policies and programs discussed in the document.
Udyam Registration Portal: Online platform for MSME registration in India, facilitating data collection on women-led enterprises.
Credit Guarantee Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises: Scheme providing financial support with special provisions for women entrepreneurs, specifically through guarantee coverage.
Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP): Credit-linked subsidy program to generate self-employment opportunities, with higher subsidy for women.
Tamil Nadu: State specifically mentioned in the context of MSME registration, funds allocation and program impact for women-led businesses.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION. No. 3
TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.01.2026
WOMEN-LED MSMEs
3. MS. S. JOTHIMANI
Will the Minister of MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES be pleased to state:
(a) the total number of women-led Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) registered in
the country during the last five years, including Tamil Nadu and particularly in Karur district;
(b) the specific schemes and financial assistance programs available to support women
entrepreneurs, particularly in the textile sector in Karur;
(c) the impact of these initiatives on women entrepreneurship, including employment generation and
business growth in Tamil Nadu;
(d) the steps taken to enhance market access, skill development and ease of doing business for
women entrepreneurs; and
(e) the funds allocated and utilized for promoting women entrepreneurship in Tamil Nadu, including
targeted support for Karur's women-led businesses, during the last three years?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
(SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)
(a): Udyam Registration Portal was launched on 01.07.2020. As on 25.01.2026, a total of 2.94 crore
women-led Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) registered in the country. The details of
women-led MSMEs registered on Udyam Registration Portal and Udyam Assist Platform in the
country including Tamil Nadu and particularly in Karur districts during last five years are given below:
FY All India Tamil Nadu Karur
2021-22 903,502 126,397 1,474
2022-23 1,919,235 200,233 2,419
2023-24 12,795,453 916,445 7,077
2024-25 8,742,913 904,572 11,577
2025-26 5,087,788 449,320 8,422
(01/04/2025 - 25/01/2026)
Total:- 29,448,891 2,596,967 30,969
(b) to (e): The Government has taken a number of initiatives to increase the participation of
women in MSMEs in the country, such as:
i. Special drives for registration of women-owned MSMEs on Udyam Registration (UR) and
Udyam Assist Portals (UAP).: 2 :
ii. To support women entrepreneurs, the Public Procurement Policy mandates that 3% of annual
procurement by CPSEs/Ministries/Departments must be made from women-owned micro and
small enterprises.
iii. To support women entrepreneurs under Credit Guarantee Scheme for Micro and Small
Enterprises, the following two provisions have been introduced for micro and small women
entrepreneurs w.e.f. 01.12.2022:
a. Guarantee coverage of up to 90% as against the 75% for others; and
b. 10% concession in annual Guarantee fees
The details of the guarantees approved to Women led MSEs under CGS are as below:
CGS - Guarantee Approved for women -led MSEs in Tamil Nadu
Duration No. of Guarantee Approved Amount Approved (in Rs.
Crore)
Cumulative since Inception 274,729 17,125
in 2000 as on December
31, 2025
Further, in order to facilitate unsecured affordable credit flow to IMEs (which are exempted from
GST regime) for their composite requirement, special provision under CGS has been launched.
Credit facility up to 20 lakh is guaranteed with extent of coverage of 85%.
iv. Ministry of MSME implements Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP)
which is a credit-linked subsidy programme aimed at generating self-employment opportunities
through establishment of micro-enterprises in the non-farm sector by helping traditional artisans
and rural/urban unemployed youth. Out of the total PMEGP beneficiaries, 39% are women and
they are provided higher subsidy (35%) vis-a-vis non-special category (upto 25%).
No. of Women Entrepreneurs assisted under PMEGP in State of Tamil Nadu during FY 2020-22
to 2024-25.
Financial No. of micro Margin Money Estimated
Year enterprises assisted subsidy (Rs. Cr) Employment
Generated
2020-21 2,663 57.77 21,304
2021-22 2,857 66.19 22,856
2022-23 2,856 75.49 22,848
2023-24 3,285 81.66 26,280
2024-25 1,786 49.67 14,288: 3 :
No. of Women Entrepreneurs assisted under PMEGP in Karur district of Tamil Nadu during FY
2020-21 to 2024-25.
Financial No. of micro enterprises Margin Money Estimated Employment
Year assisted subsidy (Rs. Cr) Generated
2020-21 25 1.27 200
2021-22 47 2.15 376
2022-23 70 1.97 560
2023-24 103 1.79 824
2024-25 104 1.77 832
v. To encourage entrepreneurship among women, Ministry of MSME implements ‘Skill Upgradation
and Mahila Coir Yojana’ under Coir Vikas Yojana, which is an exclusive training programme
aimed at skill development of women artisans engaged in the Coir sector.
vi. Participation of women entrepreneurs in trade fairs under Procurement and Marketing Support
Scheme is subsidized to the extent of 100% vis-a-vis 80% for other entrepreneurs.
vii. Ministry of MSME has launched ‘PM Vishwakarma’ Scheme on 17.09.2023, to provide a number
of benefits to the traditional artisans and craftspeople including women, engaged in 18 trades.
viii. The Ministry has launched the awareness campaign ‘Yashasvini’ to create awareness among
existing and aspiring women entrepreneurs with various schemes of the Ministry of MSME,
providing them with continuum of support through handholding, mentorship, and capacity
building.
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