ENA MSME 2026-04-07 13:24:01 <p><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>New Delhi, Apr 7 (KNN)</strong> Female employment in MSMEs in Punjab has declined sharply in FY 2025-26, even as neighbouring states like Haryana reported growth, according to data from the Centre-monitored Udyam Registration Portal.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Sharp Decline in Punjab, Growth in Haryana</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">As per a reply in the Lok Sabha by Minister of State for MSMEs Shobha Karandlaje, Punjabs female MSME employment dropped to 3.53 lakh (till Feb 2026) from 8.40 lakh in FY 2024-25, marking a decline of over 50 percent. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Other neighbouring regions mirrored Punjabs trend with Himachal Pradesh recording a decline to 63,015 from 71,095 and Chandigarh fell to 12,072 from 14,909.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">However, Haryana recorded an 18.27 percent rise, increasing from 4.16 lakh to 4.92 lakh. Jammu and Kashmir saw a marginal increase from 1.44 lakh to 1.51 lakh</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">At the national level, female MSME employment rose modestly from 2.04 crore in FY 2024-25 to 2.13 crore (till Feb 2026).</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Drop in Women-Owned Enterprises</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Punjab also saw a decline in women-led MSMEs. In FY 2024-25, there were 2.18 lakh women owned units (37 percent of 5.76 lakh total) and in FY 2025-26 (till Feb) there were 1.36 lakh women owned units (33 percent of 4.13 lakh total).</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Nationally, a similar trend was observed with women-owned MSMEs declining from 87.42 lakh (FY25) to 59.02 lakh (till Feb FY26).</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Long-Term Trend Still Positive</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Despite the recent dip, the broader trend remains encouraging. Punjabs female MSME employment rose from 1.43 lakh in FY 2020-21 to 8.4 lakh in FY 2024-25. National figures increased from 59.67 lakh to over 2 crore in the same period</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Key Takeaway</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">While India continues to see gradual growth in womens participation in MSMEs, the sharp dip in Punjab highlights regional disparities and structural bottlenecks that need targeted policy intervention.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Addressing issues such as safety, infrastructure, credit access, and data reliability will be critical to sustaining and expanding womens participation in the MSME sector.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px"><em><strong>(KNN Bureau)</strong></em></span></p> 45699 https://knnindia.co.in/news/newsdetails/msme/female-msme-employment-falls-over-50-in-punjab-rises-in-haryana-govt-data 2026-04-07 13:24:01 knnindia.co.in