Sitharaman Unveils New SIDBI Schemes for MSME Financing

01 Jun 2026 CW Team

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched a package of initiatives by the Small Industries Development Bank of India during the institution's 37th Foundation Day in Mumbai. The measures are intended to improve access to finance, technology and market support for micro, small and medium enterprises. The announcements included a co-lending portal with regional rural banks, a digital machinery marketplace, a rural modernisation programme and a credit card scheme for micro enterprises.

The RRB Co-Lending Portal will enable SIDBI to partner with Regional Rural Banks to extend credit into rural and underserved areas, while MachFin Mart is described as a digital marketplace to facilitate price discovery, standardisation and embedded loan approvals for machinery purchases. The marketplace aims to make equipment acquisition simpler and to support faster loan delivery through digital workflows. These tools are intended to strengthen credit access and delivery efficiency across the sector.

The Modernisation of Rural Enterprises programme aims to support 10,000 rural micro and artisanal enterprises over the next three years through cluster-based interventions. The Department of Financial Services introduced a credit card scheme to provide working capital of up to Rs 0.5 million (mn) to Udyam-registered micro enterprises for quicker access to funds. The government has also provided a Rs 50 billion (bn) capital infusion into SIDBI to bolster its capacity as a market maker in MSME finance.

SIDBI leadership said the initiatives mark progress toward transforming MSME financing through digital tools and partnerships, with a focus on improving credit access, delivery efficiency and technology adoption. Officials highlighted the role of SIDBI in modernising rural enterprises to increase competitiveness and productivity. Established in 1990, SIDBI continues to support MSMEs in India through credit and development programmes.

Infrastructure Transport

01 Jun 2026

MMRDA advances 250 m on Orange Gate–Marine Drive tunnel

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has completed 250 m of underground tunnelling for the Orange Gate–Marine Drive Urban Road Tunnel using India’s largest slurry shield tunnel boring machine (TBM) deployed for an urban road project.The project involves twin tunnels extending over 7 km beneath critical transport corridors, including Central Railway, Western Railway and Metro Line 3. The work requires high-precision engineering to navigate densely developed urban infrastructure.Once completed, the tunnel is expected to reduce travel time between Orange Gate and Marin..

Hindustan Zinc Pays Rs 188.46 Billion in FY26

Hindustan Zinc contributed Rs 188.46 billion to the public exchequer in FY 2025-26, according to its 9th Tax Transparency Report. The contribution, equivalent to 46 per cent of the company’s revenue, included direct and indirect taxes, government royalties, dividends to the Government of India, withholding taxes and other statutory levies.The company’s five-year cumulative contribution to the exchequer stood at Rs 915.72 billion. In FY26, Hindustan Zinc reported revenue of Rs 408.44 billion, EBITDA of Rs 221.62 billion and profit after tax of Rs 138.32 billion. It also achieved its highest..

World of Concrete India 2026 Opens in Mumbai

Informa Markets in India will host the 12th edition of World of Concrete India 2026 from 3–5 June 2026 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai. The specialised B2B exhibition will bring together manufacturers, suppliers, contractors, developers, architects, consultants, infrastructure companies, project leaders and government stakeholders.The event is expected to feature over 350 brands and more than 18,000 trade professionals. It will cover concrete and cement, dry mortar, precast technologies, formwork, construction chemicals, industrial and commercial flooring, scaffolding, safety solutio..