VISAKHAPATNAM: Employment reported by women-owned manufacturing MSMEs in Andhra Pradesh has grown more than 30-fold over the past five years, rising from 1,31,949 in 2021-22 to 41,05,039 in 2025-26, according to data tabled in the Rajya Sabha.
During the period, the number of registered women-owned manufacturing enterprises increased from 9,357 to 75,432, reflecting the growing participation of women entrepreneurs in the State’s formal manufacturing sector.
The figures, released by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in response to a Rajya Sabha question on women-owned manufacturing MSMEs, show that registrations rose from 9,357 in 2021-22 to 16,254 in 2022-23 before increasing sharply to 96,264 in 2023-24. Registrations peaked at 2,69,068 in 2024-25 before standing at 75,432 in 2025-26.
Employment reported by these enterprises also recorded a steady increase over the years. It rose from 1,31,949 in 2021-22 to 1,65,774 in 2022-23, 2,90,595 in 2023-24, and 12,27,899 in 2024-25, before reaching 41,05,039 in 2025-26.
The data indicates that women-owned manufacturing enterprises are playing an increasingly important role in employment generation in Andhra Pradesh. The increase in formal registrations and reported workforce also reflects the expanding presence of women entrepreneurs in the manufacturing sector.
However, the data also points to a rise in the number of women-owned manufacturing MSMEs that have closed. According to the Ministry of MSMEs, nine enterprises closed in 2021-22, followed by 31 in 2022-23, 52 in 2023-24, 132 in 2024-25, and 226 in 2025-26.
Although the number of closures remains small in comparison with the total number of registered enterprises, the upward trend highlights the need to strengthen support mechanisms for women entrepreneurs to ensure business sustainability beyond registration.
The Centre said it supports women-led enterprises through the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE), which facilitates collateral-free loans through member lending institutions. Women entrepreneurs are also eligible for higher subsidies under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme, implemented through the Khadi and Village Industries Commission.
Under PMEGP, women fall under the special category and are eligible for a 35% margin money subsidy for projects in rural areas, and 25% in urban areas, while their required beneficiary contribution is 5% of the project cost, compared with 10% for general-category beneficiaries.