New Delhi, Nov. 12 -- Easier access to finance, delayed payments, and the need for better technology adoption, were some of the requirements of the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector that stakeholders raised before finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman at a pre-Budget meeting on Wednesday. Participants also emphasised measures to reduce compliance burdens and improve ease of doing business for small enterprises.

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired the third pre-Budget consultation meeting, which was part of the ongoing exercise by the finance ministry to gather inputs for the upcoming Union budget 2026-27, which is scheduled to be presented in Parliament on 1 February.

Representatives from leading MSME associations ...