What’s in Today’s Article?

• About SMEs (Meaning, Characteristics, Statistics, Challenges, Govt. Schemes, etc.)
• News Summary (SEBI’s Guidelines)

About SMEs:

• Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in India are businesses that are categorized as small-scale industrial (SSI) or medium-scale industrial units. 
• They are a key part of the Indian economy and are classified based on their annual turnover and investment in equipment and plants.

Characteristics of SMEs:

• Classification:
  • Micro Enterprises: Investment up to ₹1 crore and turnover up to ₹5 crore.
  • Small Enterprises: Investment up to ₹10 crore and turnover up to ₹50 crore.
  • Medium Enterprises: Investment up to ₹50 crore and turnover up to ₹250 crore.
• Diverse Sectors:
  • Operate across manufacturing, retail, IT, textiles, and more.
  • Significant role in rural industrialization.
• Scalability:
  • SMEs often act as ancillary units, supplying to large industries while fostering entrepreneurship.

Key Statistics:

• Contribution to GDP: SMEs contribute approximately 30% to India’s GDP.
• Exports: Account for nearly 48% of India's total exports.
• Employment: Provide employment to over 110 million people across urban and rural areas.
• Number of Enterprises: Over 63 million registered SMEs operate in India.

Challenges:

• Access to Finance: Limited funding options and high borrowing costs.
• Technology Adoption: Low penetration of advanced technologies.
• Regulatory Compliance: Complex procedures and frequent policy changes.
• Global Competition: Difficulty competing with large-scale industries and international players.

Government Support:

• Schemes and Initiatives:
  • MSME Samadhan: Resolves payment issues.
  • Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP): Encourages entrepreneurship.
  • Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE): Offers collateral-free loans.
  • Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme: Supports manufacturing SMEs.
• Digital Platforms:
  • Udyam Registration: Simplifies the registration process for SMEs.
  • TReDS (Trade Receivables Discounting System): Improves cash flow management. 

News Summary:

• SEBI has proposed new guidelines to make SME Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) safer for investors. The changes aim to enhance compliance, reduce risks, and improve transparency in the SME IPO segment, which has seen increased retail participation in recent years.
• Key Proposals:
  • 
  • Minimum IPO Size: Introduction of a minimum IPO size of ₹10 crore, replacing the current scenario where no minimum is mandated.
  • Hike in Application Size: Increase in the minimum IPO application size to ₹4 lakh, from the current ₹1 lakh.
  • Promoter Restrictions: Limit the sale of promoter shares to 20% of the issue size during the IPO.
  • Profitability Requirement: SMEs must show a minimum operating profit of ₹3 crore in two out of the three years prior to filing IPO papers.
  • Disclosure and Monitoring:
    • IPO offer documents must be made public for at least 21 days before listing.
    • A compliance monitoring agency will oversee the utilization of funds raised through IPOs.
    • SMEs must disclose quarterly results and shareholding patterns, similar to larger listed companies.
• Rationale Behind the Changes:
  • These measures follow concerns over inflated valuations, fund misutilization, and investor losses in the SME segment.
  • SEBI's proposals aim to safeguard smaller retail investors and ensure the SME market remains healthy and trustworthy.