According to data presented by the Union government in the Rajya Sabha, Odisha has experienced the closure of 3,453 registered micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) over the past five financial years, despite the addition of approximately 24.68 lakh new enterprises during the same timeframe.
The information was disclosed by Union Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Shobha Karandlaje, in response to a query from Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Sasmit Patra. The registrations occurred on the Udyam Registration Portal and the Udyam Assist Platform (UAP) between the financial years 2021-22 and 2025-26.
While closures of enterprises saw an upward trend over the five-year span, the registration of MSMEs continued to grow throughout Odisha. Khordha led in registrations, totaling around 2.56 lakh, followed by Cuttack with 2.19 lakh and Ganjam with 2.15 lakh. Other districts like Balasore, Puri, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, and Sundargarh also made significant contributions to the state’s MSME growth.
The rate of closures surged significantly during the reviewed period. In 2021-22, 118 MSMEs closed, which increased to 212 in 2022-23 and 431 in 2023-24. The number nearly doubled to 875 in 2024-25, and then rose further to 1,817 in 2025-26.
Data by district indicated that Khordha recorded the highest number of closures at 601. Cuttack followed with 293, while Ganjam saw 236 closures. Balasore had 212, and Sundargarh registered 152 closures. Other affected districts included Bhadrak (151), Puri (147), Jajpur (119), Angul (117), Balangir (112), Bargarh (109), and Kendrapara (101).
In addition to the enterprise registration figures, the Centre emphasized its financial support for Odisha’s MSME sector through various flagship initiatives. Karandlaje stated that over the past five years, a total of 2.92 lakh credit guarantees worth ₹234,156 crore were approved for micro and small enterprises in the state under the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE).
Furthermore, under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), assistance was given to 16,056 micro enterprises in Odisha from 2021-22 to 2025-26, which included a margin money subsidy of ₹460.37 crore, generating an estimated 144,504 jobs.
In her statement, Karandlaje highlighted that the Union government has been actively working to enhance market access for MSMEs through a variety of programs, including the Procurement and Marketing Support (PMS) scheme, participation in trade fairs, vendor development initiatives, digital marketing efforts, and procurement opportunities available through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM).
