भारत के संदर्भ में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए :
- 1.‘सूक्ष्म, लघु और मध्यम उद्यम विकास (एम॰ एस॰ एम॰ ई॰ डी॰) अधिनियम, 2006’ के अनुसार, ‘जिनके संयंत्र और मशीनरी में निवेश 15 करोड़ रुपये से 25 करोड़ रुपये के बीच हैं, वे मध्यम उद्यम हैं’।
- 2.सूक्ष्म, लघु और मध्यम उद्यमों को दिए गए सभी बैंक ऋण प्राथमिकता क्षेत्रक के अधीन अर्ह हैं।
उपर्युक्त कथनों में से कौन-सा/से सही है/हैं?
Read this question in English
Consider the following statements with reference to India:
1. According to the 'Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act, 2006', the 'medium enterprises' are those with investments in plant and machinery between ₹15 crore and ₹25 crore.
2. All bank loans to the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises qualify under the priority sector.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only · (b) 2 only · (c) Both 1 and 2 · (d) Neither 1 nor 2
उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English
Answer: (b) केवल 2
Only statement 2 is correct. RBI's priority sector lending rules say that all bank loans to MSMEs qualify as priority sector loans, while the MSMED Act's medium-enterprise ceiling was never a band of ₹15 crore to ₹25 crore.
- ✗ 1. At the time of the exam (2023), the 2020 classification under the MSMED Act treated a medium enterprise as one with investment in plant and machinery up to ₹50 crore and turnover up to ₹250 crore. The ₹15-25 crore band does not exist.
- ✓ 2. The RBI Master Direction on priority sector lending says that all bank loans to MSMEs qualify for classification under priority sector lending.
- • Since then Budget 2025-26 announced higher ceilings: for a medium enterprise, investment up to ₹125 crore and turnover up to ₹500 crore (PIB, 1 February 2025).
Remember · All bank loans to MSMEs qualify as priority sector lending. Medium enterprise under the 2020 norms: investment up to ₹50 crore and turnover up to ₹250 crore.
Sources
- Master Directions, Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending, Targets and Classification) Directions, 2025, para 10 (RBI) ↗ “All bank loans to MSMEs shall qualify for classification under priority sector lending.”
- Celebrating MSMEs on National Small Industry Day 2024: Definition of MSMEs under the MSMED Act, 2006 (Press Information Bureau) ↗ “A medium enterprise, where the investment in plant and machinery or equipment does not exceed fifty crore rupees and turnover does not exceed two hundred and fifty crore rupees.”
- Investment and turnover limits for classification of all MSMEs to be enhanced, Budget 2025-26 (Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Finance) ↗ “Micro Enterprises 1 2.5 5 10 Small Enterprises 10 25 50 100 Medium Enterprises 50 125 250 500”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2023, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·