The Ministry of Finance vide its press release dated 21st December 2021 has listed out the measures taken by the Government for improving the flow of credit to MSME sector.
The Reserve Bank of India in its earlier circular, has allowed Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) to deduct the amount equivalent to credit disbursed to New Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), who have not availed any credit facilities from banking_system as on 01.01.2021, from their Net Demand and Time Liabilities (NDTL) for calculation of the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR).
The Minister stated that this exemption is available upto Rs 25 lakh per borrower, disbursed upto fortnight ending 31.12.2021, for a period of one year from date of origination of loan or the tenure of the loan, whichever is earlier.
The following measures where taken by the Government for improving the flow of credit to MSME sector:
- The Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) was announced as part of the Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Package with the objective to help MSMEs and business enterprises to meet their operational liabilities and resume businesses in view of the distress caused by the COVID-19 crisis, by providing Lending Institutions 100 per cent guarantee against any losses suffered by them due to non-repayment by borrowers. As informed by National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited, as on 10,12.2021, loans amounting to Rs. 3.09 lakh crore have been sanctioned under the Scheme.
- RBI had permitted one-time restructuring for MSME accounts vide circular dated 01.01.2019, 11.02.2020 and 06.08.2020. In view of the need to support the viable MSME entities on account of the fallout of COVID-19, it was decided to extend the facility for restructuring existing loans to MSMEs up to 50 crore classified as ‘standard’ without a downgrade in the asset classification subject to the conditions issued vide circular, dated 05.05.2021 and 04.06. 2021 on ‘Resolution Framework 2.0.
- The Regulatory Retail Portfolio threshold to a single counterparty was increased from 5 crore to 7.5 crore enabling Banks to assign a lower risk weight of 75% to such exposure to MSME entities.
- The psbloansin59minutes Portal was launched on 2nd November 2018 to facilitate in-principle approval of loans of up to Rs 1 crore (enhanced subsequently to Rs. 5 crore) to MSMEs without human intervention. As informed by SIDBI as on 30.11.2021, loans amounting to 79,285 crore were sanctioned on the portal.
- Subordinate Debt scheme for Stressed MSMEs was approved on 01.06.2020. Under the scheme, banks provide promoters of stressed MSMEs with subordinate debt up to 15% of promoter’s stake or Rs. 75 lakh, whichever is lower to be infused as equity/quasi equity in the business.
