| |
 |
|
|
|
| President Message |
 I had the occasion to present FISME’s charter of demands for the Budget before the Finance Minister. Recently TV9 interviewed me about expectations MSMEs have from the forthcoming Union Budget 2026-27. I posited that the key expectation from Budget 2026 is a decisive shift from headline reforms to balance-sheet relief and capacity building for MSMEs. Demand conditions are improving, but MSMEs remain constrained by fragile cash flow, volatile input costs, delayed payments and compliance-related cash blockages. The Budget must therefore prioritise liquidity with competitiveness—through targeted interest subvention, flexible credit norms, stronger credit guarantees, faster and automatic GST refunds, and effective payment discipline via TReDS. Equally critical is a technology and energy-efficiency push, including green financing, accelerated depreciation and easier machinery finance, especially for micro and export-hit manufacturing clusters. The current tax framework governing conversion of small companies into LLPs is outdated and excessively restrictive, effectively blocking legitimate restructuring and diversification of MSMEs. This warrants an urgent revision for conversion to LLP by aligning the turnover and profit thresholds with MSME definitions and permitting tax-neutral conversion through a time-bound amnesty. Further, India’s high incidence of economic double taxation on distributed profits acts as a strong disincentive to entrepreneurship and corporate formalisation; this can be corrected by removing dividend taxation on owner directors of smaller and mid-sized companies, at least up to a defined turnover threshold. This will encourage risk-taking, reinvestment and job creation. Overall, MSMEs are not seeking bailouts but a capacity protection and upgrade framework, so that demand created by macro growth can be converted into sustainable, inclusive growth by increased production on the ground.
Sandeep K Jain
President, FISME
|
|
| Vol XV, Issue 341: Jan 15, 2026 |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| Activities |
 FISME and 'Friends of MSMEs in Parliament' jointly organized the National Conference on “Strengthening the Legal and Regulatory Architecture for Growth of MSMEs” on 6 January 2026 in New Delhi. The event was inaugurated by Ms. Shobha Karandlaje, Minister of State, Ministry of MSME, who highlighted skilling, technology upgradation, and a more MSME-friendly banking system. The plenary session featured Mr. S.K. Jain (FISME), Prof. Nagesh Kumar (ISID), Mr. S.C.L. Das (Ministry of MSME), and Shri Rajendra Agrawal (Friends of MSMEs in Parliament). Three thematic sessions focused on MSME laws and regulations, justice delivery, and MSME finance, chaired by Hon’ble Shri Sujeet Kumar, and Mr. Neeraj Kedia. Speakers included legal, financial, and policy experts such as Ms. Isha Aggarwal, Mr. Akash Pawar, Dr. Sangeeta Khorana, Adv. Shantam Sharma, Adv. Sumant Batra, Adv. Abhishek Gupta, Adv. Sanjeev Ahuja, Ms. Chitrakshi Jain, Ms. Kritika Sethi, and Mr. Nihit Nagpal, offering diverse perspectives from India and abroad.
|
 FISME Secretary General Anil Bhardwaj addressed the 2025 batch of IAS and RBCS trainees at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie, highlighting the diverse realities of India’s MSMEs. He explained the distinction between formal and informal enterprises, emphasizing that most MSMEs are family-run, navigating regulations to sustain livelihoods. Bhardwaj advocated “compliance empathy” over rigid enforcement and urged future administrators to act as system integrators, facilitating growth while reforming archaic regulatory frameworks.
|
 |
|
|
| Business Banter: Lessons from Entrepreneurs |
 Every generation faces the need to catch up to the next one and the saga has existed forever. In the current scenario, this plays both in boardrooms and open offices, where veteran leaders are trying to navigate digitally fluent environments with fresh communication models and evolving expectations. The Leadership challenge today isn’t about execution, rather figuring out a rapidly changing world and the individuals creating it. That’s what’s so powerful about reverse mentorship, a radical turnaround where the ancient positions are reversed, and leaders are exposed to being led by fresh, future-oriented eyes.
|
| Writing on the Wall |
As India is pacing steadily on the path of development, clearly indicative of the performance of the economy in Q2 FY 2025-26, the Union Budget 2026 is expected to promote robust economic growth by promoting key areas like manufacturing, climate change and green energy, MSMEs, artificial intelligence and robotic technologies, through incentives, improving public infrastructure, and reducing taxation and compliance burden.The past 3 years have seen continuous relaxations in the tax slabs under the new regime, with the preceding year providing the highest relief.
Since continuous benefits have been provided in the past years, another bumper relief this year seems to be less likely.
However, since the government focuses on consumption boost to kindle economic growth, slight relaxations in the tax slabs might be expected.,..
|
| Media Monitor |
Macro Metre |
 India’s wholesale price index (WPI)-based inflation turned positive in December 2025, rising to 0.83% year-on-year from (-) 0.32% in the previous month. "Positive rate of inflation in December, 2025 is primarily due to increase in prices of other manufacturing, minerals, manufacture of machinery and equipment, manufacture of food products and textiles etc," Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a release on Wednesday.
|
 The World Bank has raised India’s FY27 growth forecast to 6.5 percent from 6.3 percent projected in October, citing stronger domestic demand and more resilient exports, though the estimate remains unchanged from its June projection last year. In its Global Economic Prospects report, the World Bank said India is likely to remain the fastest-growing major economy, noting that higher US tariffs on some exports, despite the US accounting for about 12 percent of India’s merchandise exports, are expected to be offset by strong domestic demand and resilient export performance.
|
 Smartphone exports from India, under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, are estimated to have reached USD 30 billion in the 12 months from January to December 2025. This accounts for nearly 38 percent of India’s total smartphone exports over the past five years since 2021, reported the Business Standard. Five-Year Exports Touch USD 80 Billion India’s smartphone exports were close to USD 80 billion, between 2021 and 2025, with 2025 marking the highest exports recorded in any 12-month period. The USD 30 billion figure represents a 47 percent increase over the USD 20.45 billion recorded during the same period in 2024.
|
|
|
 NITI Aayog CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam and S.C.L. Das, Secretary, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), on Thursday released a report titled “Achieving Efficiencies in the MSME Sector Through Scheme Convergence.” The report reviews the existing landscape of government support for MSMEs and proposes a framework to improve coordination among various schemes run by different ministries and departments. Speaking at the release, Subrahmanyam said, “The report focuses on how existing MSME schemes can be better utilised without creating new programmes. It offers practical, actionable suggestions that can be implemented at the MSME and ministry levels.”
|
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued the Internal Ombudsman Directions, 2026, formalising rules for grievance redressal across regulated financial entities. The final directions follow a draft released on October 7, 2025, and incorporate stakeholder feedback. The 2026 Directions introduce several key updates aimed at strengthening grievance redressal across the financial sector. The definition of “customer” has been added, clarifying that even complaints not seeking specific relief can be reviewed to improve service delivery.
|
 Artificial intelligence and automation are fast emerging as key growth engines for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), a central theme highlighted at the MSME conclave of the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) held at Rajkot. Addressing the session on Industry 5.0, Singapore-based AI and robotics expert William Lee stressed the importance of skill development, AI-led solutions and sustainable practices. AI product specialist Arun Goyal highlighted that thoughtful adoption of automation can significantly enhance operational efficiency and enable businesses to scale effectively.
|
 The National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD), under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, has nominated the President of the Federation of Indian Micro and Small & Medium Enterprises (FISME) as a non-official member of its Governing Council. The nomination has been approved by the Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in his capacity as Chairperson of the General Body of NIESBUD. The appointment brings industry representation into the institute’s top decision-making body.
|
| State Scan |
Rajasthan
 The state industries department on Sunday approved grants worth nearly Rs 58 crore under the Integrated Cluster Development Scheme (ICDS) to strengthen micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), handicrafts and handloom sectors through technology upgradation, skill development and creation of common infrastructure. A total of 10 projects across 10 clusters in nine districts were cleared, with the overall project cost estimated at Rs 69 crore. The state government will fund up to 100 per cent of the approved components, officials told TOI.
Tamil Nadu
 The Union Government has rolled out port infrastructure and digital governance projects worth Rs 235 crore at Chennai Port Authority and Kamarajar Port Limited, reinforcing Tamil Nadu’s role in India’s maritime-led growth strategy. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated and laid foundation stones for the projects during the “Viksit Bharat, Viksit Ports” programme in Chennai. Of the total outlay, Rs 129.36 crore has been allocated for projects at Chennai Port Authority, while Rs 105.64 crore pertains to initiatives at Kamarajar Port.
Uttar Pradesh
 The Uttar Pradesh government has announced significant progress in linking youth with industries and MSME units through apprenticeship schemes, providing practical work experience alongside employment opportunities. According to a press release from the state’s Public Information Department, 83,277 young people were placed as apprentices across industrial and MSME units in 2025–26 alone, reported ET.
UP Minister of State for Vocational Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Kapil Dev Agarwal, highlighted that the apprenticeship programmes extend beyond certification, equipping youth with hands-on experience in manufacturing, services, and small and medium enterprises.
Andhra Pradesh
 The State Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu at the State Secretariat on Thursday, approved the establishment of the Logistics Infrastructure Holding Corporation. Announcing the decisions, Minister for Information and Public Relations Kolusu Parthasarathy said the move was aimed at addressing rising logistics costs in the State. The proposed AP Logistics Infrastructure Corporation will bring logistics-related activities under a unified framework, with a focus on reducing costs through coordinated development of roads, inland waterways and sea transport in association with the AP Maritime Board.
|
| World Watch |
New Zeeland
 India and Germany have decided to deepen bilateral cooperation in the postal, express and logistics sector with the signing and exchange of two pacts. The agreements were concluded during the visit of German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz to India on January 12, 2026. The pacts include a Joint Declaration of Intent (JDoI) between the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications, and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, as well as a Letter of Intent (LoI) between the Department of Posts and Deutsche Post AG, Germany’s designated postal operator.
|
Israel
 State Bank of India (SBI), the only Indian bank operating in Israel, is preparing to facilitate bilateral trade settlement in Indian rupees, amid strengthening strategic ties and renewed momentum around a proposed India–Israel Free Trade Agreement (FTA). According to SBI Israel CEO V. Manivannan, Israel has been identified by the Reserve Bank of India as one of the partner countries under the mechanism that allows Indian banks to settle cross-border trade in rupees. The framework is aimed at supporting growing trade flows and increasing international use of the Indian currency.
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
FISME’s official Twitter handle @fisme |
 |
KNN India’s official Twitter handle @knnindia |
 |
|
|
| Other Events |
Food & Drink Processing Expo 2026 (FDP)
Date: 20 - 22 Jan 2026
Venue: Palace Grounds, Bengaluru
See Details
National Garment Fair 2026 (NGF)
Date: 20 - 22 Jan 2026
Venue: Bombay Exhibition Centre (BEC), Mumbai
See Details
India ESG Conclave
Date: 21 Jan 2026
Venue: Hotel Le-Meridien, New Delhi
See Details
IMTEX 2026
Date: 21 - 25 Jan 2026
Venue: Bangalore International Exhibition Centre, Bengaluru
See Details
4th BFSI Confex & Awards 2026 – Mumbai Chapter
Date: 22 Jan 2026
Venue: Holiday Inn Mumbai International Airport, Mumbai
See Details
SRW India Water Expo 2026
Date: 22 - 24 Jan 2026
Venue: Chennai Trade Centre, Chennai
See Details
India International Garment Fair 2026 (IIGF)
Date: 23 - 25 Jan 2026
Venue: YashoBhoomi Dwarka, New Delhi
See Details
PAMEX 2026
Date: 27 Jan 2026
Venue: Bombay Exhibition Centre (BEC), Mumbai
See Details
Home and Personal Care Ingredients Exhibition and Conference 2026 (HPCI)
Date: 27 - 28 Jan 2026
Venue: Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai
See Details
India ESG Conclave
Date: 21 Jan 2026
Venue: Hotel Le-Meridien, New Delhi
See Details
43rd Edition Digital Transformation Summit - India
|
| Your Views |
Do you believe India becoming the world's fourth largest economy will create new opportunities for MSMEs? 
According to the FISME factor, 80% of MSMEs believe that India’ emergence as the world's fourth largest economy will create new opportunities for MSMEs while 20% can’t say.
|
| Knowledge Store |
HR Heuristics
Why inclusion must move beyond metrics to shape the future of work
 As organizations worldwide reimagine work amid rapid technological change, shifting demographics, and evolving employee expectations, inclusion has emerged as a defining pillar of the future workplace. No longer limited to representation or compliance-driven metrics, inclusion today is about creating environments where every individual feels valued, heard, and empowered to contribute authentically.
|
Finance Fundamentals
Why weak financial records keep MSMEs out of credit and how AI is changing that
 For India’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), access to credit often defines whether a business stagnates or scales. Some businesses sail through, while others hit roadblocks that seem invisible until it’s too late. Despite government efforts to push digitalization and banks widening lending frameworks, many MSMEs struggle to secure credit. The problem isn’t ambition, vision, or potential—it’s the state of their financial records.
|
|
Marketing Mantras
This Is the Marketing Strategy Every Small Business Can Afford
 We hear the word “local” a lot these days, like local farms, local services or local support. But when it comes to your small business, especially one that is trying to grow online or compete with national chains, localization is no longer just a nice-to-have. It’s now something that directly affects how people find you, trust you and buy from you.
Localization means you have to tailor your business (products, messaging, search visibility and even customer service) to the community around you.
|
|
Policy Polemic
Textile Industry Urges Govt To Scrap Cotton Import Duty Amid Falling Production
 A Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) delegation comprising leading figures from the textile and apparel sector met Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Delhi on January 9, 2026, seeking his intervention for the permanent removal of import duty on cotton of all varieties.
|
|
SME Special
Inside the small factory in Basti powering its paper dona economy
 Virendra Kumar Mishra’s dona raw material unit in Basti addresses a cost problem many small manufacturers quietly face, access to processing equipment. In Basti district, Virendra Kumar Mishra runs a small manufacturing unit linked to a product most people barely notice: disposable paper dona and pattal. These sit quietly behind weddings, street food stalls, hotels, and local events. But for Mishra, his business has always been about filling a gap: one not in demand, but in equipment.
|
|
Success Story
How a Hapur man built a medical store starting with bicycle deliveries
 For Premchan Saini, the idea of running his own medical store did not arrive overnight. It grew slowly, shaped by years of work, uncertainty, and a steady effort to understand how a small business actually survives. Based in Hapur district, his journey is less about quick success and more about learning to manage supply, money, and trust at the local level.
|
Stockpile
The National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry Of Statistics And Programme Implementation (Mospi) has released the First Advance Estimates of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the Financial Year (FY) 2025-26 along with its Expenditure components both at Constant (2011-12) and Current Prices.
|
Quotable Quotes
 “ If you want to shine like a sun, first burn like a sun. ”
– - A. P. J. Abdul Kalam – Indian aerospace scientist and former President of India
|
| Country Chronicles |
|
FISME regularly receives monthly reports on the economies of various countries from their missions in India. These reports provide information on key economic parameters, trade related information and all news relevant for importers and exporters. In this edition you can take a look at reports on:
|
| New Members |
2 enterprises became member of FISME during the period from 1st to 15th Jan 2026
|
| Reader Reactions |
Write and Win prize!
Write your comments on the FISME Factor. Share your views and suggestions on MSME issues. Win prize! The best mail will get a special book every fortnight.
send mail to: newsletter@fisme.org.in
|
| Editorial Team: |
Hon. Editor: Anil Bhardwaj
Asstt. Editor: Kalpana Sharma
Types setting & websdesigning: Sanjay Sachan
|
|
|
|
You are receiving this Newsletter because you are included in our mailing list of recipients who are involved or interested in FISME or Indian MSMEs. You are welcome to partly or fully reproduce and disseminate the contents of this publication provided that you acknowledge the source.
To subscribe/unsubscribe to this Newsletter
click subscribe or unsubscribe
This Newsletter is edited by the FISME Secretariat. We welcome contributions as well as comments and suggestions. Please write to info@fisme.org.in |
|
|
 |
Bangalore
57/5, Family YMCA Building,
Millers Road, Benson Town,
Bangalore - 560046
Tel: +91-80-23543589
Email: bangalore@fisme.org.in |
Hyderabad
H. No. 6-3-569 / 1/2/4
2nd floor, Rockdale Compound, Somajiguda
Hyderabad – 500082
Tel: +91- 40- 23322117 Fax: +91 -40- 23312116
Email: hyderabad@fisme.org.in |
|
| |
Jhandewalan
Tel: +91- 11- 4364 2013
Email: chamber.jw@fisme.org.in |
Mahipalpur
Tel: +91 -11- 46035866
Email: chamber.mpur@fisme.org.in |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|