ZED Handholding & Consultancy Support
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Quick Answer
Up to Rs 2 lakh per MSME for consultancy and handholding to move towards Zero Defect Zero Effect.
- Funding amount
- Up to ₹2L
- Funding type
- Subsidy
- Provider
- Ministry of MSME
- Application deadline
- Rolling
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
- Registrations needed
- Udyam registration
About this subsidy
Under the MSME Sustainable (ZED) Certification Scheme, a provision of up to Rs 5 lakh per MSME is available for handholding and consultancy support to help enterprises move towards Zero Defect Zero Effect solutions. Of that provision, up to Rs 2 lakh may be used for handholding support delivered through empanelled consulting organisations. The Ministry subsidises this support at 80% for Micro, 60% for Small and 50% for Medium enterprises. An additional 10% subsidy applies to MSMEs owned by Women/SC/ST entrepreneurs or located in the North Eastern Region, Himalayan, LWE, island territories or aspirational districts, and a further 5% for MSMEs that are part of SFURTI or the MSE-CDP programme. A minimum Bronze ZED certification is required.
Eligibility
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Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Subsidy providers
The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (Ministry of MSME) is the Government of India ministry for the MSME sector. It does not run one programme. It runs a set of central schemes, each with its own portal and its own route in: a credit-linked subsidy for new…
Learn moreBenefits & Funding
- Amount
- Up to ₹2L
What You Get
Out of an overall provision of up to Rs 5 lakh per MSME, up to Rs 2 lakh can be used for handholding support through consulting organisations that guide the enterprise towards Zero Defect Zero Effect practice. The Ministry subsidises this at 80% for Micro, 60% for Small and 50% for Medium enterprises, with an additional 10% for Women/SC/ST-owned MSMEs and units in the North Eastern Region, Himalayan, LWE, island territories or aspirational districts, and a further 5% for SFURTI or MSE-CDP members.
- Disbursement
- Reimbursement
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Applications
Rolling basis
Application Process
- 1
Get Bronze ZED
Achieve at least Bronze ZED certification.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
See the questions before you start
Download every question this programme's application form asks, so you can prepare your answers offline before opening the portal.
- 2
Line up your documents
Keep every document from the checklist ready in one folder. Missing docs are the #1 reason applications get bounced.
- 3
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 4
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much handholding support can I get?
Up to Rs 2 lakh, drawn from the overall provision of up to Rs 5 lakh per MSME under ZED.
Do I have to pay part of the cost?
Yes. The Ministry subsidises 80% for Micro, 60% for Small and 50% for Medium enterprises; the balance is borne by the MSME.
Are there extra subsidies?
An additional 10% applies to MSMEs owned by Women/SC/ST entrepreneurs or located in the North Eastern Region, Himalayan, LWE, island territories or aspirational districts, plus 5% more for SFURTI or MSE-CDP participants.
Do I need to be ZED certified first?
Yes — a minimum Bronze certification is required to avail the handholding support.
Who delivers the handholding?
Empanelled consulting organisations, with utilisation subject to the consultant's recommendation and verification by the respective MSME-DI.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
