Women-owned MSMEs are underrepresented on the Udyam Registration Portal (URP)

• Women-owned MSMEs constitute only 20.5% of MSMEs registered on the URP since its inception in 2020. 
  • Also, these MSMEs contribute only 10.22% of the total turnover of Udyam-registered MSMEs. 
• By accelerating women's entrepreneurship, India could create over 30 million women-owned enterprises and around 150-170 million jobs (NITI Aayog). 

• Challenges faced by women entrepreneurs
  • Poor Digital and technical skills due to low literacy rates, lack of access to mobile and Internet.
  • Inadequate access to formal credit as most women do not have assets in their name to pledge as collateral.
  • Most women-owned businesses are home-run, micro, and informal limiting their Market spaces.
  • A disproportionate burden of care economy, limited mobility for women, etc. 

• Initiatives to promote women entrepreneurs
  • Public Procurement Policy (2018): Mandates at least 3% annual procurement from women-owned micro and small enterprises by Central Ministries/Departments/ Undertakings. 
  • Credit Guarantee Scheme for Micro & Small Enterprises: Provides additional concessions and guarantees for women entrepreneurs.
  • MSME Sustainable Zero Defect Zero Effect (ZED) Certification Scheme: 100% subsidy on cost of ZED Certification for Women-owned MSMEs.
  • Upgradation & Mahila Coir Yojana’ under Coir Vikas Yojana program, SAMARTH initiative, etc.