Lok Sabha Question No. 1920 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-11
Subject: Zero Defect Zero Effect in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Asked by: Thiru Arun Nehru

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1920

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 11.12.2025

## ZERO DEFECT ZERO EFFECT IN TAMIL NADU

## 1920. THIRU ARUN NEHRU:

Will the Minister of MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES be pleased to State:

- (a) the  details  of  MSMEs  certified  under  the  Zero  Defect  Zero  Effect  (ZED)  manufacturing programme in Tamil Nadu, since the programme's inception, district-wise and year-wise;
- (b) the measures undertaken by the Government to promote ZED standards among small and micro enterprises in the State, including the financial and technical assistance extended to ensure compliance;
- (c) the assessment of the impact of ZED adoption on product quality, environmental sustainability and export competitiveness of MSMEs in Tamil Nadu; and
- (d) the challenges faced in implementing the ZED programme and the steps proposed to overcome these issues to enhance effectiveness in the State?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)

- (a): The MSME Sustainable (ZED) Certification Scheme was launched on 28th April, 2022. Since the  launch of the Scheme, as on 5th December, 2025, a total of 15,798 MSMEs have been certified under the Scheme in the State of Tamil Nadu, which includes 14,924 Bronze, 402 Silver and 472 Gold. The  district-wise  and  year-wise  breakup  of  MSMEs  certified  in  Tamil  Nadu  may  please  be  seen  at Annexure-I.
- (b): The  Government  has  undertaken  several  measures  to  promote  ZED  standard  among  micro, small and medium enterprises across the country, including the State of Tamil Nadu. These initiatives include nationwide awareness programmes, outreach through television commercials, radio campaigns, print media, digital and social media platforms. Further, under the ZED  Scheme,  financial assistance/subsidies are provided to MSMEs for ZED certification fees, cost of testing/system/product certification,  and  technology upgradation  for zero effect solutions. Additionally, for technical assistance, handholding is provided to guide MSMEs to achieve higher certification levels.
- (c): The third-party evaluation of the scheme is now under process for continuation of the Scheme during  the  next  XVI  Financial  Cycle  (FY2026-27  to  FY2030-31).  However,  the  scheme  provides support for product quality, environmental sustainability and export competitiveness of MSMEs across the  country including the State of Tamil Nadu and monitors it through assessments and surveillance mechanisms, thereby reflecting positive response towards adoption of ZED practices.
- (d)      The  key  challenges  faced  in  implementing  the  ZED  programme  include  limited  technical  skill capacity within MSMEs, financial and technical constraints for upgradation, resistance from enterprises to shift from traditional practices, and the need for stronger demand generation for ZED adoption from larger  industry  players.To  address  these  challenges,  steps  have  been  taken  to  maximise  outreach  to MSMEs and enhance their technical capability through awareness and handholding support. Financial incentives such as subsidies on the cost of ZED Certification, testing/system/product certification, and technology upgradation for Zero Effect solutions are being provided.

## Annexure-I

## Details of ZED Certification(Year-wise & District-wise) in the State of Tamil Nadu

| S. No.   | District        |   2022-23 | 2023-24   | 2024-25   | 2025-26 (till 5 th Dec 2025)   | Total Certification   |
|----------|-----------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|--------------------------------|-----------------------|
| 1        | Ariyalur        |         4 | 15        | 1         | 2                              | 22                    |
| 2        | Chengalpattu    |        14 | 64        | 15        | 25                             | 118                   |
| 3        | Chennai         |        58 | 377       | 685       | 656                            | 1776                  |
| 4        | Coimbatore      |       154 | 1088      | 261       | 991                            | 2494                  |
| 5        | Cuddalore       |        13 | 393       | 17        | 55                             | 478                   |
| 6        | Dharmapuri      |         3 | 419       | 5         | 33                             | 460                   |
| 7        | Dindigul        |        21 | 267       | 23        | 60                             | 371                   |
| 8        | Erode           |        18 | 428       | 55        | 313                            | 814                   |
| 9        | Kallakurichi    |         0 | 10        | 2         | 2                              | 14                    |
| 10       | Kanchipuram     |        54 | 259       | 133       | 232                            | 678                   |
| 11       | Kanniyakumari   |         3 | 6         | 70        | 37                             | 116                   |
| 12       | Karur           |        18 | 130       | 40        | 310                            | 498                   |
| 13       | Krishnagiri     |       191 | 99        | 29        | 84                             | 403                   |
| 14       | Madurai         |        55 | 1468      | 183       | 185                            | 1891                  |
| 15       | Mayiladuthurai  |         0 | 20        | 2         | 5                              | 27                    |
| 16       | Nagapattinam    |         0 | 29        | 1         | 54                             | 84                    |
| 17       | Namakkal        |         4 | 58        | 5         | 51                             | 118                   |
| 18       | Perambalur      |         2 | 94        | 0         | 2                              | 98                    |
| 19       | Pudukkottai     |         8 | 13        | 5         | 18                             | 44                    |
| 20       | Ramanathapuram  |         0 | 0         | 0         | 5                              | 5                     |
| 21       | Ranipet         |         0 | 18        | 7         | 35                             | 60                    |
| 22       | Salem           |        14 | 67        | 171       | 241                            | 493                   |
| 23       | Sivaganga       |         5 | 222       | 6         | 26                             | 259                   |
| 24       | Tenkasi         |         0 | 47        | 31        | 146                            | 224                   |
| 25       | Thanjavur       |         2 | 153       | 13        | 176                            | 344                   |
| 26       | The Nilgirish   |         2 | 13        | 9         | 13                             | 37                    |
| 27       | Theni           |         8 | 104       | 101       | 19                             | 232                   |
| 28       | Thiruvallur     |        57 | 459       | 394       | 296                            | 1206                  |
| 29       | Thiruvarur      |         3 | 19        | 1         | 38                             | 61                    |
| 30       | Tiruchirappalli |        11 | 58        | 60        | 76                             | 205                   |
| 31       | Tirunelveli     |         1 | 18        | 7         | 52                             | 78                    |
| 32       | Tirupathur      |         1 | 2         | 2         | 3                              | 8                     |
| 33       | Tirupattu       |         1 | 0         | 0         | 0                              | 1                     |
| 34       | Tiruppur        |        42 | 818       | 168       | 343                            | 1371                  |
| 35       | Tiruvannamalai  |         3 | 14        | 5         | 55                             | 77                    |
| 36       | Tuticorin       |         2 | 37        | 10        | 27                             | 76                    |
| 37       | Vellore         |        10 | 33        | 8         | 87                             | 138                   |
| 38       | Villupuram      |         7 | 176       | 18        | 50                             | 251                   |
| 39       | Virudhunagar    |         4 | 64        | 19        | 81                             | 168                   |
|          | Grand Total     |       793 | 7,559     | 2,562     | 4,884                          | 15,798                |