West Bengal Approves WBIS 2026 MSME Incentive Scheme With Interest And Power Subsidies

Kolkata, Jul 20 (KNN) The West Bengal government has approved the West Bengal Incentive Scheme (WBIS) 2026 for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to promote industrial growth, employment generation and balanced regional development across the state.

The scheme will come into effect from October 1, 2026, and will remain operational for five years until September 30, 2031, unless modified or withdrawn earlier through a government notification.

Scheme Targets Manufacturing MSMEs

The incentive scheme will apply to new and eligible MSMEs in the manufacturing sector that commence commercial production on or after October 1, 2026, and obtain Udyam Registration.

It will cover enterprises in the private, cooperative and joint sectors, state government-owned undertakings, and industrial self-help groups (SHGs). Units that began production on or before September 30, 2026, will not be eligible.

Interest Subsidy On Term Loans

Under the scheme, eligible micro and small enterprises will receive interest subsidies on term loans obtained from commercial banks, cooperative banks, scheduled banks, regional rural banks and financial institutions for approved projects.

Enterprises in Zone A will receive a subsidy equivalent to 25 percent of the annual interest liability for five years from the date of first loan disbursement, while those in Zones B and C will receive 35 percent for the same period.

Electricity Duty Waiver

The scheme also provides reimbursement of electricity duty for manufacturing units.

MSMEs in Zone A will receive a 50 percent waiver of electricity duty for five years from the commencement of commercial production, while enterprises in Zones B and C will be eligible for a 75 percent waiver.

Micro and small enterprises wholly owned by women or SC/ST entrepreneurs will receive a 100 percent electricity duty waiver for five years, subject to a maximum reimbursement of Rs 10 lakh per year.

Support For Quality Certification And Expansion

The state government will reimburse 50 percent of certification costs incurred for obtaining quality certifications such as ISI, BIS, ISO and HACCP, subject to a ceiling of Rs 5 lakh for micro and small enterprises and Rs 10 lakh for medium enterprises.

Existing eligible MSMEs undertaking approved expansion projects will also be entitled to incentives, including capital subsidy, reimbursement of stamp duty and registration fees, power subsidy, electricity duty waiver and incentives for water conservation and environmental compliance.

Cluster-Based Incentives

The scheme introduces additional support for MSME clusters established in government-approved industrial parks.

Clusters comprising at least five MSMEs, with a minimum investment of Rs 250 crore and direct employment of at least 500 workers, will be eligible for infrastructure support covering common effluent treatment plants, internal roads, drainage systems and power substations.

The total subsidy for each eligible cluster will be capped at Rs 5 crore.

(KNN Bureau)