Udyam Registration is the MSME Ministry’s official online process for recognising enterprises as micro, small or medium units. It enables businesses to access priority sector lending and participate in government procurement with reserved quotas, along with other MSME benefits.
The push towards formal enterprise recognition under the Udyam framework gathered momentum at SARAS Aajeevika Mela 2026, with the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) conducting an awareness session for Self-Help Group (SHG) women entrepreneurs as part of the Ministry of Rural Development’s inter-ministerial convergence efforts at the mela.
Udyam Registration is the MSME Ministry’s official online process for recognising enterprises as micro, small or medium units. It enables businesses to access priority sector lending and participate in government procurement with reserved quotas, along with other MSME benefits.
The session introduced SHG members to the MSME enterprise framework, explained the digital Udyam registration process and outlined the documentation requirements for formal recognition.
Addressing the women entrepreneurs, popularly known as Lakhpati Didis, K.C. Meena, senior official in MSME Ministry highlighted that Udyam registration enables access to institutional credit, participation in government procurement and onboarding onto the Government e-Marketplace (GeM). The workshop also covered components of the Procurement and Marketing Support (PMS) Scheme, Vendor Development Programmes and the importance of packaging standards, barcoding and digital access to enhance competitiveness in wider markets. The initiative supports MoRD’s efforts to facilitate formal enterprise integration of SHG-led businesses under the national rural livelihoods ecosystem.
“Many SHG businesses are already functioning well at the local or state level. Udyam registration provides formal identity within the MSME framework and enables participation in structured procurement systems, including government buyers. Through the Udyam Assist Platform, informal micro-enterprises can also be brought into the formal system and gain access to credit and government support schemes,” he said.
Women entrepreneurs said the session taught procedural aspects that were not fully understood earlier.
“We had heard about registration, but we did not know the exact steps. After the explanation here, the process is clearer. We want to reach larger markets beyond local exhibitions. If we take Udyam registration, it can prove to be a big support for us in expanding our business,” Sushila Munda from Nabarangpur district of Odisha.
Asomi from Assam’s Golaghat District said the digital demonstration simplified the procedure.
“We knew there were benefits, but we were unsure about documentation and eligibility. Now we understand how to apply and what is required,” she said
Tara Chouhan from Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh said the workshop made her realise that several MSME support schemes require a valid Udyam Registration certificate.
“We were aware of some government schemes, but we did not know that registration is necessary for many of them. Without formal recognition, it becomes difficult to access those benefits. Once I return from the mela, I will ensure that I complete my Udyam registration and also encourage other women in my group to do the same,” she said.
As part of the Ministry of Rural Development’s convergence efforts under DAY-NRLM, the One District One Product (ODOP) team also engaged with SHG entrepreneurs at the mela, guiding them on aligning products with ODOP branding and strengthening market linkages. A dedicated session by the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) team facilitated onboarding under the ODOP GeM Bazaar during the event.
Earlier, on the commencement day of the Saras Aajeevika Mela 2026, a senior government official while interacting with the media had highlighted the progress of the Lakhpati Didi initiative.
Swati Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, had stated that the Prime Minister had set a target of creating three crore Lakhpati Didis, of which 2.9 crore women had already achieved the benchmark as of December 2025. She had added that the remaining target was expected to be achieved in the near future.
Sharma had also noted that the financial discipline of SHG members has strengthened confidence in the banking system, with NPA levels of Self-Help Groups in various states falling below two percent.
