Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announces measures

13 May 2020 Editorial Team

MSME measures

1. Collateral free automatic loans. 4 year tenor with 12m moratorium. 100% credit guarantee on principal and interest - 3L Cr (60k Cr cover)
2. Subordinate Debt for stressed MSMEs (which are NPA or are stressed) - 20k Cr (4k Cr contribution of Govt to CGTMSE)
3. Fund of funds to be created for equity infusion (those which are viable) - 50k Cr
4. Definition of MSMEs being changed in favor of MSMEs. Limits on investments to be revised upwards. Additional criteria based on turnover also will be introduced. Differentiation between manufacturing and service units to be removed
Micro units - Investments upto 1 Cr + Turnover upto 5 Cr
Small units - 10 Cr + 50 Cr
Medium units - 20 Cr + 100 Cr

5. Government tenders upto 200 Cr will no longer be on global tender basis. Global tenders will be disallowed for upto 200 Cr. This will make MSMEs eligible to participate in Government purchases
6. Post Covid, e-market linkage to be provided for all MSMEs. Receivables by MSMEs from the Government will be cleared in next 45 days

EPF Measures

7. Liquidity relief for all EPF establishments (less than 100 employees with 90% drawing less than 15k). 12% of employer contribution and 12% employee contribution was borne by Government for March April and May. 3 months extra support to be provided by contributing total 24% for June July and August - 2.5k Cr
8. For other establishments, employers need to contribute 10% (vs 12% earlier) to EPF. Not applicable to Govt. and PSU enterprises - 6.75k Cr liquidity

NBFC Measures

9. 30k Cr liquidity scheme through Investment grade debt papers of NBFC, HFC and MFI fully guaranteed by GoI.
10. 45k Cr through partial credit guarantee scheme scope expansion. AA rated papers and below including unrated papers will be included under the scheme. First 20% loss to be borne by GoI.

Discoms measures

11. One time Emergency liquidity infusion - 90k Cr to all discoms against all receivables. Gen Cos should give rebates to discoms for passing on to consumers

Contractors

12. Ongoing public works - Concessional period to be extended by 3-6m for contractors. Govt agencies will partially release bank guarantees for partially completed contracts

Real Estate

13. Urban Development Ministry to issue advisories for regulators to announce Covid 19 can be used to invoke Force Majeure on contracts signed. All registrations registered after 25 March 2020 and contracts expiring after 25 March 2020 can be extended by 6m without specific applications for it

Tax Measures

14. TDS / TCS rates reduced by 25% on non salaried payments effective tomorrow upto 31 March 2021. Will apply to all payments - 50k Cr additional liquidity
15. All pending refunds to charitable trusts and non-corporate taxpayers (but including LLP) will be issued immediately
16. Due date for all income tax returns to be 30 November 2020 and tax audit due date to be 31 October 2020
17. Assessments getting barred on 30 September 2020 will get barred on 31 December 2020.
Cases getting barred on 31 March 2021 will get barred on 30 September 2021
18. Vivaad se Vishwaas scheme extended upto 31 December 2020 without any extra payments.

Click here to access the Atma Nirbhar presentation by the FM, Nirmala Sitharaman, presented on 13th May 2020

Also read:

https://www.constructionworld.in/Latest-Updates-On-Construction-Companies/Dear-Finance-Minister/23540

https://www.constructionworld.in/Latest-Updates-On-Construction-Companies/An-Open-Letter--to-Finance-Minister/23378

https://www.constructionworld.in/Latest-Updates-On-Construction-Companies/FM-announces-Construction-Workers-Fund/23377

MSME measures 1. Collateral free automatic loans. 4 year tenor with 12m moratorium. 100% credit guarantee on principal and interest - 3L Cr (60k Cr cover) 2. Subordinate Debt for stressed MSMEs (which are NPA or are stressed) - 20k Cr (4k Cr contribution of Govt to CGTMSE) 3. Fund of funds to be created for equity infusion (those which are viable) - 50k Cr 4. Definition of MSMEs being changed in favor of MSMEs. Limits on investments to be revised upwards. Additional criteria based on turnover also will be introduced. Differentiation between manufacturing and service units to be removed Micro units - Investments upto 1 Cr + Turnover upto 5 Cr Small units - 10 Cr + 50 Cr Medium units - 20 Cr + 100 Cr 5. Government tenders upto 200 Cr will no longer be on global tender basis. Global tenders will be disallowed for upto 200 Cr. This will make MSMEs eligible to participate in Government purchases 6. Post Covid, e-market linkage to be provided for all MSMEs. Receivables by MSMEs from the Government will be cleared in next 45 days EPF Measures 7. Liquidity relief for all EPF establishments (less than 100 employees with 90% drawing less than 15k). 12% of employer contribution and 12% employee contribution was borne by Government for March April and May. 3 months extra support to be provided by contributing total 24% for June July and August - 2.5k Cr 8. For other establishments, employers need to contribute 10% (vs 12% earlier) to EPF. Not applicable to Govt. and PSU enterprises - 6.75k Cr liquidity NBFC Measures 9. 30k Cr liquidity scheme through Investment grade debt papers of NBFC, HFC and MFI fully guaranteed by GoI. 10. 45k Cr through partial credit guarantee scheme scope expansion. AA rated papers and below including unrated papers will be included under the scheme. First 20% loss to be borne by GoI. Discoms measures 11. One time Emergency liquidity infusion - 90k Cr to all discoms against all receivables. Gen Cos should give rebates to discoms for passing on to consumers Contractors 12. Ongoing public works - Concessional period to be extended by 3-6m for contractors. Govt agencies will partially release bank guarantees for partially completed contracts Real Estate 13. Urban Development Ministry to issue advisories for regulators to announce Covid 19 can be used to invoke Force Majeure on contracts signed. All registrations registered after 25 March 2020 and contracts expiring after 25 March 2020 can be extended by 6m without specific applications for it Tax Measures 14. TDS / TCS rates reduced by 25% on non salaried payments effective tomorrow upto 31 March 2021. Will apply to all payments - 50k Cr additional liquidity 15. All pending refunds to charitable trusts and non-corporate taxpayers (but including LLP) will be issued immediately 16. Due date for all income tax returns to be 30 November 2020 and tax audit due date to be 31 October 2020 17. Assessments getting barred on 30 September 2020 will get barred on 31 December 2020. Cases getting barred on 31 March 2021 will get barred on 30 September 2021 18. Vivaad se Vishwaas scheme extended upto 31 December 2020 without any extra payments. Click here to access the Atma Nirbhar presentation by the FM, Nirmala Sitharaman, presented on 13th May 2020Also read:https://www.constructionworld.in/Latest-Updates-On-Construction-Companies/Dear-Finance-Minister/23540https://www.constructionworld.in/Latest-Updates-On-Construction-Companies/An-Open-Letter--to-Finance-Minister/23378https://www.constructionworld.in/Latest-Updates-On-Construction-Companies/FM-announces-Construction-Workers-Fund/23377

Resources

04 Jun 2026

ULCCS Showcases Cooperative Model at UN Symposium

Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society (ULCCS) showcased its community-led development model at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, where it participated as a panellist at the International Symposium on Cooperative Financial Institutions held on 28–29 May 2026.Jointly organised by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), the International Cooperative Banking Association (ICBA), and the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), the symposium was held under the theme ‘Fuelling Inclusive and Equitable Growth’ and brought together policymakers,..

Infrastructure Transport

04 Jun 2026

Delhi Airport to Finalise 20-Year Master Plan

Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) is finalising a 20-year master plan to guide long term infrastructure and operational development at Indira Gandhi International Airport, an official said. The operator expects the plan to reflect changes in the airline industry, shifts in the competitive landscape and evolving infrastructure requirements across terminals, airside and support services. The official said the document is likely to be ready in the next two to two-and-a-half months as the operator moves through planning stages. The plan will be prepared after consultations with airport users ..

Real Estate

04 Jun 2026

Aadhar Housing Finance Targets Rs 500 bn AUM By FY29

Aadhar Housing Finance has set a target to raise its asset under management to Rs 500 billion (bn) by the end of FY29, aiming to achieve this over the next three financial years through an 18-20 per cent loan growth trajectory. The firm focuses on the low-income segment with a ticket size of less than Rs 1.5 million (mn) and has relied on that segment to drive expansion. The company closed FY26 with an AUM of Rs 305.71 bn, reflecting the expansion in recent years, and it reported a net profit rise of 22 per cent to Rs 11.08 bn. Management indicated that gross non-performing assets stood at 1.0..