Lok Sabha Question No. 5148 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-24
Subject: Promotion of Export from Maharashtra
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Shri Amar Sharadrao Kale

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT FOR PROMOTION OF INDUSTRY AND INTERNAL TRADE

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5148.

TO BE ANSWERED ON TUESDAY, THE 24 TH  MARCH, 2026.

## PROMOTION OF EXPORT FROM MAHARASHTRA

## 5148.  SHRI AMAR SHARADRAO KALE:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

## वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- (a) the details of the major industries established in Wardha  districts of Maharashtra during the last five years;
- (b) the quantum of investment made in these industries and the number of jobs created therein;
- (c) the details of the assistance provided to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and startup in the State;
- (d) the various  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  promote  exports  from Maharashtra; and
- (e) the  plans  formulated  for  future  industrial  corridors  of  industrial  parks  in Maharashtra?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री ( श्री णिणिन प्रसाद ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

- (a) & (b): Industry is a state subject. State Government of Maharashtra has informed that 71,760 MSME units are registered under Udyam in Wardha district. This sector has  generated  employment  for  around  2,57,824  individuals,  backed  by  a substantial investment of Rs 1,466.35 crores, driving the district's economic development and local entrepreneurship.
- (c): Ministry of MSME implements Credit Guarantee Scheme (CGS) for Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) through Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) to provide credit guarantee for loans extended to MSEs. The ceiling for guarantee coverage under the scheme is Rs. 10 crore (w.e.f. 01.04.2026). Since inception in 2000 till 28.02.2026, a total of 11.59 lakh credit  guarantees  amounting  to  Rs.  1.66  lakh  crore  have  been  extended  to MSEs in the State of Maharashtra.

be pleased to state:

Self-Reliant India (SRI) Fund has been set up to infuse Rs. 50,000 Crore as equity  funding  in  Micro  Small  and  Medium  Enterprises  (MSMEs)  with  a provision of Rs. 10,000 Crore from the Government of India and Rs. 40,000 Crore through Private Equity / Venture Capital Funds. The Budget 2026-27 has also announced a support of Rs 2,000 crore to top up the SRI Fund set up in 2021, to continue support to micro enterprises.

As reported by NSIC Venture Capital Fund Limited (NVCFL), since inception in October 2021 till 28.02.2026, 171 MSMEs have been assisted in the State of Maharashtra by way of fund investment of Rs. 4,427.8 crore.

The Government has approved the establishment of the Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 with a total corpus of Rs 10,000 Crore. The scheme is designed to accelerate  the  next  phase  of  India's  startup  journey  by  mobilising  longterm domestic  capital,  strengthening  the  venture  capital  ecosystem,  supporting innovation across the country including Maharashtra. The Scheme builds upon the experience and performance of the Fund of Funds for Startups Scheme (FFS 1.0) implemented under the Startup India initiative. Under FFS 1.0, the Government provides capital to SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) through the Small Industries Development Bank of India(SIDBI), which in turn invests in startups across sectors and stages. As on 31st January 2026, Rs.  6,801.95  crore  has  been  committed  to  80  AIFs  supported  under  the Scheme from the State of Maharashtra.

In  the  State  of  Maharashtra,  supported  Alternative  Investment  Funds  (AIFs) under  the  Fund  of  Funds  for  Startup  Scheme  (FFS  1.0)  have  invested  Rs. 6,025.25 crore in 276 startups as on 31st January 2026.

Under  the  Startup  India  initiative,  an  Action  Plan  for  startups  comprising  of schemes and incentives envisaged to create a vibrant startup ecosystem in the country including Maharashtra has been formulated. It comprises of 19 action items across areas such as 'Simplification and handholding', 'Funding support and  incentives'  and  'Industry-academia  partnership  and  incubation'.  The Government  also  implements  periodic  exercises  and  programs  including States' Startup Ranking, National Startup Awards, and Innovation Week which play an important role in the holistic development of the startup ecosystem. The Government also encourages and supports ecosystem-led initiatives such as Startup  Mahakumbh which  serves  as  a  vibrant  platform  for  stakeholders  to network and collaborate. Initiatives to improve market access and enable public procurement  support  startups  in  growing  and  scaling  up  their  businesses. These measures are complemented by regulatory reforms and other ecosystem development events and programs.

Further,  specifically  in  the  State  of  Maharashtra,  36,782  entities  have  been recognized as startups by the Government with a recognised startup emerging from every district of the State. As on 31st January 2026, supported AIFs under the Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) Scheme have invested Rs. 6,025.25 crore in 276 startups from the State of Maharashtra.

As on 31st January 2026, supported incubators under Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) have approved Rs. 105.06 crore to 559 startups from the State of Maharashtra.

Additionally, under the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS), as on 31st  January  2026,  78  loans  amounting  to  Rs.  187.6  crore  has  been guaranteed to startups from the State of Maharashtra.

Support to the startup ecosystem and MSME in Maharashtra is also provided through  the  Government  of  Maharashtra.  The  state  has  introduced  the Maharashtra  Startup,  Entrepreneurship  and  Innovation  Policy  2025,  which provides  a  framework  for  expanding  funding  access,  infrastructure  and ecosystem support for startups in the State. The policy includes provisions for financial  assistance  and  ecosystem  development  to  strengthen  the  startup landscape across Maharashtra.

The  State  has  also  instituted  funding  mechanisms  such  as  the Maharashtra Fund of Funds in partnership with SIDBI, supporting professionally managed venture  funds  that  invest  in  startups  across  the  State.  Additionally,  the Maharashtra Innovation  and  Technological  Development  Fund  (MITDF) provides a dedicated venture funding mechanism for early-stage and growth capital.

Complementary  ecosystem  initiatives  include  the  establishment  of  microincubators in ITIs, polytechnics and  colleges, development  of regional innovation  and  entrepreneurship  hubs,  strengthening  of  district  innovation committees  and  funds,  and  programmes  such  as  Startup  Yatra,  innovation challenges and hackathons, along with a statewide mentor network and digital knowledge platform connecting startups with investors, experts and institutions.

State Government of Maharashtra has also informed that they have provided the following special incentives for the MSME sector:

-  Maharashtra Chief Minister Employment Generation Programme (CMEGP) provides credit-linked subsidies (15%-35%) for new MSMEs. It funds projects up to Rs 50 lakh (manufacturing) and Rs. 20 lakh (service), requiring  only  5%-10%  beneficiary  contribution  for  unemployed  youth. Total 1,802 cases sanctioned under CMEGP Scheme in Wardha District since inception with Rs. 27.0966 crore subsidy.
-  Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PGEGP) provides credit-linked  subsidies  (15%-35%)  for  new  micro  enterprises.  It  funds projects  up  to  Rs.  50  lakh  (manufacturing)  and  Rs.  20  lakh  (service), requiring only 5%-10% beneficiary contribution for all eligible citizens. In Last  Five  Years  Total  202  cases  sanctioned  in  Wardha  District  under PMEGP with Rs. 7.4844 crore subsidy.
- (d): The major initiatives taken by Government of India for enhancing exports in the country including the State of Maharashtra are as under:
- (i)   The Export Infrastructure Division of Department of Commerce, Government  of  India  implements  the  'Trade  Infrastructure  for  Export Scheme (TIES)', a Central Sector Scheme w.e.f. F.Y. 2017-18, with the objective  of  assisting  Central  and  State  Government  agencies  in  the creation  of  appropriate  infrastructure  for  growth  of  exports.  Under  the scheme, financial assistance in the form of grant-in-aid has been provided to  Maharashtra  for  establishing  the  facility  for  analysis  of  origin  and authenticity of various food products in Mumbai.
- (ii)   The Districts as Export Hubs (DEH) initiative under Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), an attached office under Department of Commerce, Government of India, seeks to harness the export potential and unique identity  of  each  district  by  promoting  exports  of  identified  goods  and services,  including  Geographical  Indication  (GI)  products,  agricultural clusters,  and  toy  clusters.  Institutional  mechanisms  in  the  form  of  State Export Promotion Committees (SEPCs) at the State/UT level and District Export  Promotion  Committees  (DEPCs)  at  the  district  level  have  been constituted to facilitate export promotion and address bottlenecks affecting export growth.
- (iii)  The Export Promotion Mission (EPM), approved by the Union Cabinet with DGFT as implementing agency provides a comprehensive, flexible, and digitally  driven  framework  for  export  promotion,  with  a  total  outlay  of Rs.25,060  crore  for  FY2025-26  to  FY  2030-31.  The  Mission  aims  to strengthen access to affordable and inclusive  trade finance, addressing non-financial  barriers  that  enhance  export  quality  and  compliance  with global  standards,  as  well  as  provide  logistics  support  and  institutional export  support,  including  to  MSMEs.  EPM  marks  a  strategic  shift  from multiple fragmented schemes to a single, outcome-based, and adaptive mechanism designed to directly address structural challenges, including limited and expensive trade finance access and the high cost of compliance with international export standards. The Mission would operate through two integrated sub-schemes:
1. NIRYAT PROTSAHAN - with focus on improving access to affordable trade finance for MSMEs through a range of instruments such as interest subvention, export factoring, collateral guarantees, credit cards for ecommerce exporters, and credit enhancement support for diversification into new markets.
2. NIRYAT DISHA -  with  focus  on  non-financial  enablers  that  enhance market  readiness  and  competitiveness,  including  export  quality  and compliance support, assistance for international  branding,  packaging, and participation in trade fairs, export warehousing and logistics, inland transport reimbursements, and trade intelligence and capacity-building initiatives

Further, the state has reported that in coordination with the Central Government,  they  have  implemented  a  multi-layered  strategy  under  the Maharashtra State Export Promotion Policy 2023-2028 with following features:

-  Export Promotion Policy to increase the state share in national exports.
-  Financial incentives and subsidies such as interest subsidy and export credit support.
-  Support  to  MSMEs  though  technology  up-gradation  and  marketing assistance.
-  One  District  One  Product  (ODOP)  to  promote  district-specific  export products.
-  Trade fairs and exhibitions to help exporters access international markets.
- (e): State  Government  of  Maharashtra  has  informed  that  development  of  the Nagpur to Mumbai Samruddhi Industrial Corridor, which passes near Wardha is expected to attract industries and logistics hubs. The proposed Shaktipeeth Highway will further strengthen road transport and regional industrial development. Establishment of a defence industrial corridor in the Nagpur to Wardha to  Amravati  region  is  expected  to  promote  defence  manufacturing, aerospace, and advanced technology industries. Sindhi Dry Port is planned to improve cargo handling, warehousing, and export logistics in Wardha, creating major opportunities in the logistics sector.

Further,  under  the  National  Industrial  Corridor  Development  Programme (NICDP) of Government of India, two industrial smart cities have been approved in  State  of  Maharashtra  as  part  of  Delhi  Mumbai  Industrial  Corridor  (DMIC) namely:

-  Shendra Bidkin Industrial Area (SBIA) admeasuring 9,929 acres
-  Dighi Port Industrial Area (DPIA) admeasuring 6,056 acres

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