STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: The 69th meeting of the Empowered Committee on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) for the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, covering the quarter ended December 31, 2025, was held at the Jammu office of the Reserve Bank of India on Wednesday. The meeting was chaired by Regional Director Shri Chandrashekhar Azad and attended by senior officials from key financial institutions, industry bodies, and government departments.
Participants included representatives from KVIC, MSME-Development and Facilitation Office, Department of Industries & Commerce, major public and private sector banks, UTLBC Convenor Bank J&K, as well as office-bearers of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Confederation of Indian Industry.
In his opening remarks, the Regional Director highlighted the crucial role of MSMEs as the backbone of India’s industrial economy, contributing significantly to GDP, exports, manufacturing, and employment generation. He outlined several policy measures announced in the Union Budget 2026-27, including the proposed Rs 10,000 crore SME Growth Fund aimed at supporting high-potential MSMEs and an additional Rs 2,000 crore allocation to enhance risk capital for micro-units. He also referred to the RBI’s recent developmental and regulatory policy announcements, particularly the enhancement of collateral-free loan limits from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh for micro and small enterprises.
The chair noted encouraging progress under MSME Annual Credit Plans for FY 2025-26 in both UTs and urged banks to further strengthen credit flow to the sector. Emphasis was also laid on promoting Udyam registration, digital adoption, and improved last-mile credit delivery. Banks were encouraged to actively participate in Financial Literacy Week 2026, themed “KYC – Your First Step to Safe Banking.”
During the meeting, the committee reviewed key performance indicators, including TReDS implementation, Udyam registration progress, flow of credit to MSMEs, CGTMSE coverage, NPA levels, PMEGP-sponsored cases, and rehabilitation of stressed units under the Framework for Revival and Rehabilitation. Banking infrastructure in MSME clusters and progress on targets recommended by the Prime Minister’s Task Force on MSMEs were also assessed.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment from stakeholders to strengthen financial inclusion and support sustainable growth of MSMEs across Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.