New Delhi, Sep 5: The government’s Corporate Mitra programme is set to give small businesses easier access to professional support, helping them handle regulatory and financial requirements while improving the overall business environment.
Launched under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, the programme is designed to create a pool of trained and certified paraprofessionals who can assist Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with areas such as accounting, taxation, banking, financial management, legal and secretarial work and cost management. The first batch has 2,879 learners registered for the programme.
For MSMEs, which often have limited access to specialised professional services, the initiative could make compliance easier and less costly. Better support in maintaining records, meeting regulatory requirements and managing finances can allow business owners to spend more time on production, sales, expansion and employment.
The programme could also benefit the wider corporate sector by creating a stronger ecosystem of businesses that maintain proper records and follow regulatory requirements. As smaller enterprises become more organised and formal, they can find it easier to build relationships with banks, suppliers, larger companies and other institutional partners.
Corporate Mitra is structured as a 12-month programme, combining around 150 hours of academic learning with six months of practical training in professional firms. The programme is being supported by professional institutes including ICAI, ICSI and ICoAI, along with academic and technology support from IIT Madras, IIT Madras Pravartak and SWAYAM Plus.
The impact could extend beyond compliance. A larger pool of trained professionals can create new employment opportunities while giving MSMEs access to skills that can improve financial planning, governance and business decision-making.
By helping more small businesses become compliant, organised and formally integrated into the economy, the initiative can strengthen the link between MSMEs and the broader corporate ecosystem. This can support investment, credit access, productivity and business expansion over time.
The programme therefore goes beyond reducing the compliance burden. It can contribute to ease of doing business, employment generation, greater formalisation and more inclusive economic growth, while creating a stronger support system for India’s growing MSME and corporate sectors.