New Delhi : Vice President of India C.P. Radhakrishnan on MSME Day 2026 presided over the “Udyami Bharat” event held at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, where the government reaffirmed its commitment to building a technology-driven and future-ready Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) ecosystem.
The event was attended by Union Minister for MSME Jitan Ram Manjhi, Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje, KVIC Chairman Manoj Goel, senior officials, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, financial institutions and representatives from academia.
During the programme, the Vice President felicitated the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) following its upgradation from a Schedule ‘B’ to a Schedule ‘A’ Central Public Sector Enterprise. He also received a GI-tagged Ponduru Khadi sample from Andhra Pradesh and a portrait presented by the Coir Board.
Radhakrishnan launched several digital initiatives aimed at strengthening the MSME ecosystem, including the PMEGP 2.0 Portal, SAMADHAAN 2.0, PMS Portal, MSME Global Mart 2.0, MSME Testing Portal and MSME Idea Hackathon 6.0. He also launched multilingual and voice-enabled access across MSME portals, offering services in 22 Scheduled Indian languages along with AI-based grievance redressal and document translation features.
On the occasion, the Vice President released a Coffee Table Book on the PM Vishwakarma Scheme highlighting success stories of artisans, and a book on the Self-Reliant India (SRI) Fund showcasing its role in promoting enterprise growth, innovation, employment and women entrepreneurship.
He also launched a range of eco-friendly Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) products, including infant wear, stoles, wraps and handcrafted textiles.
Addressing the gathering, the Vice President said the MSME sector plays a crucial role in driving economic growth and encouraged entrepreneurs to remain determined in achieving their goals. He recalled his own beginnings in the sector and his association with the Coir Board.
Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi said the government is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for entrepreneurs through formalisation, digital empowerment, improved access to finance, and innovation-led growth. Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje described MSMEs as the “engine of the Indian economy,” noting their role in job creation, innovation and national development.
The event concluded with technical sessions on women entrepreneurship and growth capital for scalable MSMEs, highlighting pathways to strengthen India’s small business ecosystem.