Certification Scheme Directory

The scheme aims to provide comfortable Bed & Breakfast (BnB)/Home Stay Facilities and supplement the availability of accommodation across Punjab State. It allows owners of residential properties to register fully operational rooms as BnB/Homestay units to provide clean and affordable accommodation for international and domestic tourists while offering additional income opportunities.

An umbrella scheme launched by the Government of Odisha to provide welfare and empowerment services to Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). The scheme aims to address constraints in accessing public services due to lack of certification and lack of adequate assistive devices and appliances. It covers 21 categories of disabilities and provides support for therapies, surgery, fitting of aids & appliances, self-employment avenues, education, employment, barrier-free environment, and social security.

A Suo-Moto Sub-Scheme under the Capacity Building for Service Providers (CBSP) umbrella scheme that provides financial assistance to institutes to conduct entrepreneurship development programmes in five trades: Cook-Tandoor, Barman, Baker, Homestay (Multi-Skilled Caretaker), and Halwai (Indian Sweets). The programme offers 150-hour courses with stipends, certification, and employment facilitation for eligible candidates.

A Suo-Moto Sub-Scheme under the Umbrella Scheme of Capacity Building for Service Providers (CBSP). Financial assistance is provided to selected institutes to conduct Skill Development Programmes targeting persons with limited means who need to acquire skills facilitative to employment in hospitality sector. Courses include Multi Cuisine Cook, Food & Beverage Service Steward, Room Attendant, Front Office Associate, Laundry Machine Operator, Kitchen Steward, Home Delivery Boy, and Traditional Snack & Savoury Maker.

Scheme formulated to turn educated youth from job seekers to job creators by providing support to startups and innovative projects in Himachal Pradesh. The scheme envisages various incentives for startups to enable entrepreneurial success, creation of incubation centers, skill development, and support for setting up units under professional guidance in manufacturing and service sectors.

The Digital MSME Scheme aims to make MSMEs digitally empowered by motivating them to adopt Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools and cloud-based applications in their production and business processes. Implemented under the MSME Champions umbrella by the Office of the Development Commissioner (MSME), it offers subsidised access to cloud computing services, ERP, CRM, and other ICT applications to registered MSMEs. The scheme covers all MSMEs registered under the MSMED Act 2006 (as amended) and those included via executive orders by the Office of the DC (MSME). Service providers empanelled by DC (MSME) deliver cloud-based ICT solutions at subsidised rates, with the government reimbursing the subscription cost directly to the service provider. It is an ongoing component of the MSME Champions Scheme aimed at improving MSME competitiveness in national and international markets.

The Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Programme (ESDP) is organized regularly to nurture the talent of youth by enlightening them on various aspects of industrial/business activity required for setting up MSMEs. The programme conducts activities for youth and other people interested in setting up their own industrial/self-employment venture through various modules including Entrepreneurship Awareness Programme (EAP), Entrepreneurship-cum-Skill Development Programme (E-SDP), and Management Development Programme (MDP), both basic and advanced levels.

A placement-linked skill training programme for unemployed youth in Jammu and Kashmir. Youth are provided free skill training for 3 to 12 months in various market-demand skills, with job placement assurance (minimum 70%) and one year post-placement tracking. The programme includes residential and non-residential training, computer-oriented skills, soft skills, English communication, and technical skills training.

The scheme provides comprehensive support for people belonging to various tribes in the entire range of production, product development, reservation of traditional heritage, support to both forest and agricultural produce of tribal people, support to Institutions to carry the above activities, provision of better infrastructure, development of designs, dissemination of information about price and the agencies which are buying the products, support to Government agencies for sustainable marketing and thereby ensure a reasonable price regime.

Intellectual Property Right Scheme offers legal and intellectual property filing support including patents, trademarks, copyrights, designs, geographical indications (GI) etc. The programme also provides IP advisory, consultation, Patentability Searches, Technology Gap Analyses and IP commercialisation through the establishment of Intellectual Property Facilitation Centres (IPFCs) across the country.

The scheme aims to capacity build MSMEs for entering the export market by facilitating their participation in international exhibitions/fairs/conferences/seminars/buyer-seller meets abroad as well as providing them with actionable market-intelligence and reimbursement of various costs involved in export of goods and services. The scheme provides financial assistance for Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) paid by first-time exporters for registration with EPCs, export insurance premiums paid by MSEs, and fees paid on testing and quality certification acquired by MSEs to export products.

The Skill Development Initiative Scheme (SDIS) or Modular Employable Skills (MES) under the Indian government is aimed at improving the employability of the Indian workforce by providing vocational training. It is a public-private partnership between the government and industry to promote skills development programs for early school dropouts and existing workers, especially in the unorganized sector. The main goal is to provide employable skills and test and certify existing skills for school leavers, workers, ITI graduates, and those withdrawn as child labor. The scheme provides modular, flexible vocational training in various sectors with industry-recognized certification, encouraging entrepreneurship and self-employment.

The scheme aims to fulfill the skilled manpower requirement of MSMEs by imparting necessary on-the-job training by the MSMEs themselves and thereby creating employment. The scheme assists the MSME sector by sharing the training cost which otherwise would be borne by the enterprises themselves. MSMEs provide employment-based job-oriented on-the-job training which will lead to certification.

An extensive drive to create awareness amongst MSMEs about Zero Defect Zero Effect (ZED) practices and motivate and incentivize them for ZED Certification while encouraging them to become MSME Champions. The scheme promotes quality manufacturing, environmental consciousness, waste reduction, and enhanced competitiveness.

The Research & Development Scheme is a component of the Umbrella Scheme 'National Handicrafts Development Programme (NHDP)' introduced to generate feedback on the economic, social, aesthetic, and promotional aspects of various crafts and artisans in the handicraft sector. The scheme sponsors surveys, studies, workshops, seminars, and conferences to generate suitable inputs for planning purposes and sensitize artisans on latest developments in the handicrafts sector.

The National Startup Awards recognize and reward outstanding startups and ecosystem enablers that are building innovative products or solutions and scalable enterprises, with high potential of employment generation or wealth creation, demonstrating measurable social impact. Awards are conferred across 20 categories.

The NSIC Single Point Registration Scheme (SPRS) enables Micro and Small Enterprises to register with the National Small Industries Corporation for participation in government procurement. Registered units benefit from the Public Procurement Policy for MSEs, which mandates that Central Ministries, Departments, and PSUs procure a minimum 25% of their annual purchases from MSEs, with 4% earmarked for SC/ST-owned units and 3% for women-owned units. SPRS-registered MSEs enjoy exemption from payment of Earnest Money Deposit (EMD), receive tender documents free of cost, and can avail price preference in government tenders. Additionally, 358 items are exclusively reserved for procurement from the MSE sector, making SPRS certification a critical gateway to government market access for small enterprises.

The Performance and Credit Rating (PCR) Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises, implemented by the Ministry of MSME through NSIC, enables MSEs to obtain an independent third-party credit and performance rating from SEBI-registered, RBI-empanelled agencies such as CRISIL, CARE, ICRA, India Ratings, ONICRA, SMERA, and Dun & Bradstreet. The scheme subsidises 75% of the rating fee (subject to turnover-based caps of ₹25,000 to ₹40,000) reimbursable through NSIC, making professional credit ratings accessible and affordable for small enterprises. A credible rating enables MSEs to secure loans at better interest rates, gain recognition in global trade, and helps buyers and vendors assess their capability and creditworthiness. The rating covers operational, financial, business, and management risk on a uniform scale across all empanelled agencies.

Swanirbhar Naari is a state flagship scheme implemented by the Directorate of Handloom & Textiles, Assam, to support indigenous weavers and promote their traditional hand-woven items. The scheme ensures direct procurement from weavers without the involvement of middlemen, thereby providing them fair market access and improved remuneration for their craftsmanship. The scheme encourages weavers to acquire certifications and provides quality training through Handloom Training Centres and Institutes, integrating modern technology into the traditional weaving process.

A financial assistance program offered to micro and small enterprises (MSEs) owned by Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in India. The scheme aims to reduce the financial burden of quality testing for SC/ST MSEs, helping them improve product quality and compete effectively. It provides reimbursement on testing fees charged by NABL or BIS accredited laboratories across the country.

A scheme for startups of Goa that have successfully entered the production/service delivery phase to reimburse 50% of the cost of trademark registration for their company name and logo, up to ₹25,000.

The Udyam Assist Platform (UAP), launched on January 11, 2023 by the Ministry of MSME and implemented by SIDBI, facilitates formalisation of Informal Micro Enterprises (IMEs) that lack GSTN or Income Tax Return filings and are therefore ineligible for regular Udyam Registration. UAP enables such enterprises to obtain a digitally generated Udyam Assist Certificate, which the Reserve Bank of India (vide circular dated May 9, 2023) has confirmed is treated at par with the Udyam Registration Certificate for Priority Sector Lending (PSL) classification by banks and NBFCs. Registered IMEs gain access to formal credit channels, government MSME scheme benefits, and recognition as micro enterprises under the MSME framework. The platform crossed 1.5 crore registrations by early 2024, making it one of the largest MSME formalisation drives in India.

Udyam Registration is the official government recognition certificate for MSMEs in India, issued free of cost through a fully online, paperless, self-declaration-based process at udyamregistration.gov.in. Upon registration, businesses receive a unique Udyam Registration Number (URN) and certificate that is permanent — no renewal required. Registered MSMEs gain access to a wide range of benefits: (1) Priority Sector Lending — banks are mandated to lend to MSMEs under priority sector norms; (2) Collateral-Free Loans — access to Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for MSEs (CGTMSE) for loans up to ₹10 crore without pledging assets; (3) Delayed Payment Protection — buyers must pay MSMEs within 45 days under the MSMED Act, with interest liability on default; (4) Government Procurement Preference — 25% of all Central Government procurement must be from MSEs, with 3% reserved for women-owned enterprises; (5) Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme (CLCSS) — technology upgradation subsidy; (6) Lower electricity tariffs; (7) Protection against delayed payments via MSME Samadhaan portal; (8) Access to all MSME ministry schemes, subsidies, and incentives. Registration is based on self-declaration using Aadhaar and PAN — no inspector visits, no fees.

The MSME Sustainable (ZED) Certification Scheme, launched in 2016 by the Ministry of MSME, is an integrated certification system that promotes Zero Defect Zero Effect manufacturing amongst MSMEs. The scheme encourages MSMEs to adopt quality practices, energy efficiency, and environmentally sound processes. It offers certification at Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels, with subsidies of up to 80% on certification costs for micro enterprises (max ₹7 lakh). Women-led MSMEs receive free certification. The ZED certificate is valid for three years and covers productivity, quality, pollution mitigation, energy efficiency, financial status, HR, and technological depth.