Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan — Complete Guide to Self-Reliant India

The &rupee;20 lakh crore package (approximately 10% of GDP) includes direct fiscal spending, RBI liquidity measures, credit guarantees, and structural reforms. It was announced in 5 tranches in May 2020. Key components include &rupee;3 lakh crore ECLGS for MSMEs, &rupee;1 lakh crore Agri Infrastructure Fund, &rupee;30,000 crore for NBFCs, free food grains for 80 crore people, EPF support, and various sector-specific measures. Not all of it was direct government expenditure — a significant portion comprised credit guarantees and liquidity injections.

Micro enterprise: investment up to &rupee;1 crore AND turnover up to &rupee;5 crore. Small enterprise: investment up to &rupee;10 crore AND turnover up to &rupee;50 crore. Medium enterprise: investment up to &rupee;50 crore AND turnover up to &rupee;250 crore. Both criteria must be met (the lower classification applies if they fall in different categories). The distinction between manufacturing and services MSMEs was removed. Export turnover is excluded from the turnover calculation.

ECLGS was available for fresh sanctions until 31 March 2023 (the last extension). While new sanctions have closed, existing ECLGS loans continue to be serviced with their original terms (up to 6 years including moratorium). However, the Government periodically announces sector-specific credit guarantee schemes. Check with your bank or contact TaxClue to explore current credit guarantee options available for your business type.

If you manufacture in India with minimum 50% local content, you benefit from — (a) price preference of up to 20% in government procurement under Public Procurement Order; (b) 25% reservation for MSMEs in government purchases on GeM; (c) participation in ODOP programme for district-specific products; (d) reduced competition from imports in categories where QCOs mandate BIS certification; (e) consumer preference driven by the Vocal for Local awareness campaign. Register on GeM and get BIS/Quality certifications to maximise these advantages.

Yes. Startups benefit through multiple channels — (a) DPIIT-recognised startups get all Startup India benefits (tax holiday, self-certification, patent rebate); (b) Fund of Funds for Startups via SIDBI; (c) GeM registration for government procurement; (d) PLI participation if in eligible manufacturing sectors; (e) IN-SPACe for space-tech startups; (f) iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) for defence-tech startups with grants up to &rupee;1.5 crore; (g) liberalised angel tax rules (now abolished entirely). The Atmanirbhar Bharat ecosystem strongly supports the startup economy.

The 4 codes consolidate 29 laws — (1) Code on Wages: uniform minimum wage, timely payment; (2) Industrial Relations Code: easier hire/fire for units with up to 300 workers, fixed-term employment, standing orders; (3) Social Security Code: EPF/ESI for gig workers, universal social security; (4) OSH Code: occupational safety, working hours (8-hour shifts with 48-hour weekly limit), annual leave rules. Employers need to review employment contracts, update PF/ESI compliance, and adjust payroll systems. States are implementing codes in phases — consult TaxClue for current status in your state.

Udyam registration is free, paperless, and permanent. Visit udyamregistration.gov.in, enter your Aadhaar number and PAN/GSTIN. The system auto-fetches investment and turnover details from government databases. Classification (Micro/Small/Medium) is done automatically. No documents to upload, no fees to pay, no renewal required. The Udyam Registration Number (URN) is generated instantly. This URN is needed for all MSME benefits including ECLGS, CGTMSE, GeM procurement preferences, and priority sector lending. TaxClue can assist if you face any issues during registration.

Make in India (2014) focuses specifically on transforming India into a global manufacturing hub through FDI, ease of doing business, and sector-specific support. Atmanirbhar Bharat (2020) is a broader economic vision encompassing self-reliance across all sectors — manufacturing, agriculture, defence, space, healthcare, and digital. Make in India is now a key pillar within the Atmanirbhar Bharat framework. PLI schemes, which are central to both, were announced as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat but are implemented under the Make in India umbrella.