Maharashtra’s MSME Economy Powers Jobs as 63.85 Lakh Units Employ 2.5 Crore People

Mumbai: The Economic Survey of Maharashtra 2025-26 highlights the critical role played by the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector, which continues to remain the backbone of employment generation in the state.

According to the survey tabled in the Legislature on Wednesday, 63.85 lakh MSMEs have been registered on the Udyam portal in Maharashtra as of December 2025, making it one of the largest MSME ecosystems in the country.

These enterprises together provide employment to about 252.84 lakh people, underlining the sector’s importance in sustaining livelihoods across urban and semi-urban regions.

The data shows that micro enterprises dominate the MSME landscape, accounting for 62.11 lakh units, while small enterprises number around 1.55 lakh and medium enterprises around 0.18 lakh.

The survey notes that MSMEs contribute significantly to industrial production, exports and local employment, particularly in sectors such as engineering goods, textiles, food processing, chemicals and services.

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Export powerhouse

Maharashtra also continues to remain a major export hub, contributing around 15 per cent of India’s total exports, according to the Economic Survey.

Key export sectors include:

• engineering goods
• pharmaceuticals
• chemicals
• automobile components
• information technology services.

Software exports cross ₹1.74 lakh crore

The survey highlights the strong performance of the information technology sector, which has emerged as a major driver of services exports.

Software exports from the state reached ₹1,74,798 crore up to January 2026, reflecting the continued expansion of the IT ecosystem in cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Navi Mumbai and Nagpur.

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Expansion of IT parks

Under the IT and ITES Policy 2023, the state government has developed 37 public IT parks, attracting investments worth about ₹18,595 crore.

These projects have generated employment for approximately 2.7 lakh people, according to the survey.

Startup ecosystem grows

Maharashtra continues to lead India’s startup ecosystem.

As of February 2026, the state accounted for 17 per cent of all recognised startups in India, the highest share among all states.

The survey indicates that startup activity remains concentrated in Mumbai and Pune, though emerging innovation hubs are also developing in Nagpur, Nashik and Thane.

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Top destination for foreign investment

The Economic Survey further notes that Maharashtra has remained the largest recipient of foreign direct investment (FDI) in India.

Between October 2019 and March 2025, the state attracted 31 per cent of the country’s total FDI inflows, reinforcing its position as India’s leading investment destination.

The survey suggests that continued investment in infrastructure, logistics and technology will remain crucial for sustaining industrial growth and expanding employment opportunities across the state.