Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 27: Around 3.69 crore registered micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in India are women-owned, accounting for approximately 38 per cent of all registrations, according to an official factsheet.
The factsheet highlighted the growing participation of women in the workforce and entrepreneurship, with the female labour force participation rate (LFPR) among those aged 15 years and above rising from 23.3 per cent in 2017-18 to 40 per cent in 2025.
The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) for women also increased from 22 per cent in 2017-18 to 38.8 per cent in 2025. In absolute terms, an estimated 20 crore women aged 15 years and above were employed in India during 2025.
More than 1.07 lakh recognised startups had at least one woman director or partner, accounting for approximately 48 per cent of all recognised startups.
“This broader transition is being supported through policies that expand women’s access to safer workplaces, social protection, entrepreneurship, formalisation and financial opportunities,” the statement said.
Women's participation has also grown in manufacturing. As of July 2026, women constituted nearly 70 per cent of the direct workforce in mobile phone manufacturing. Across the wider electronics manufacturing sector, women accounted for nearly 30 per cent of the workforce created over the preceding decade.
“Formal recognition, finance and market access provide key areas for strengthening women-led enterprises,” the statement noted.
Among the initiatives supporting women entrepreneurs is the Swavalamban Scheme, which assists young women from the business ideation stage through to enterprise creation. The scheme provides entrepreneurship training, financial assistance, market guidance and legal support. Selected participants also receive 21 weeks of mentorship and handholding to help them develop sustainable businesses.
The Yashasvini Campaign seeks to encourage greater participation of women in entrepreneurship and achieve gender parity on the Udyam Registration Portal and Udyam Assist Platform by 2029.
As of July 2026, the campaign had facilitated more than 22 lakh registrations of women-owned MSMEs.
The factsheet also highlighted progress in public procurement from women-owned enterprises. Procurement from women-owned micro and small enterprises (MSEs) stood at 3.8 per cent in the financial year 2025-26, exceeding the stipulated public procurement target of 3 per cent.
The figures reflect the expanding role of women in India's workforce, entrepreneurship and manufacturing, supported by initiatives aimed at improving access to finance, formal registration and market opportunities.