Women own 38% of registered MSMEs: 3.69 crore enterprises, LFPR hits 40%
Synopsis
India's official data reveals a quiet economic revolution: women now own 38% of all registered MSMEs — 3.69 crore enterprises — while their labour force participation rate has nearly doubled in seven years to 40%. With women making up nearly half of all recognised startups and 70% of mobile phone manufacturing workers, the numbers challenge the long-held narrative that Indian women remain on the margins of the formal economy.
Key Takeaways
3.69 crore registered MSMEs are women-owned, representing 38 per cent of all registrations, according to an official factsheet dated 15 October 2026 .
Women's LFPR rose from 23.3 per cent in 2017-18 to 40 per cent in 2025; WPR rose from 22 per cent to 38.8 per cent in the same period.
An estimated 20 crore women aged 15 and above were employed in India in 2025 .
Over 1.07 lakh recognised startups had at least one woman director or partner — about 48 per cent of all recognised startups.
The Yashasvini Campaign facilitated over 22 lakh women-owned MSME registrations by July 2026 ; procurement from women-owned MSEs hit 3.8 per cent in FY26, exceeding the 3 per cent target.
Women account for nearly 70 per cent of the direct workforce in mobile phone manufacturing as of July 2026 .
About 3.69 crore registered MSMEs in India are women-owned, accounting for roughly 38 per cent of all registrations, according to an official factsheet released on Thursday, 15 October 2026 in New Delhi. The data signals a structural shift in women's economic participation, with key indicators across employment, entrepreneurship, and manufacturing all pointing upward.
Labour Force Participation Surges
Women's labour force participation rate (LFPR) for those aged 15 and above climbed from 23.3 per cent in 2017-18 to 40 per cent in 2025 — a near-doubling over seven years. The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) for women rose in parallel, from 22 per cent in 2017-18 to 38.8 per cent in 2025. In absolute terms, an estimated 20 crore women aged 15 and above were employed in India as of 2025.
This comes amid sustained policy efforts to formalise women's work, expand social protection, and improve access to finance. 'This broader transition is being supported through policies that expand women's access to safer workplaces, social protection, entrepreneurship, formalisation and financial opportunities,' the official statement noted.
Startups and Manufacturing: Women Step Up
Over 1.07 lakh recognised startups had at least one woman director or partner as of the factsheet date, representing approximately 48 per cent of all recognised startups — nearly half of India's formal startup ecosystem. In manufacturing, women constitute nearly 70 per cent of the direct workforce in mobile phone manufacturing as of July 2026. Across the broader electronics manufacturing sector, women account for nearly 30 per cent of the workforce created over the last decade.
Yashasvini Campaign and Procurement Targets
The Yashasvini Campaign — aimed at achieving gender parity on the Udyam Registration Portal and Udyam Assist Platform by 2029 — had facilitated over 22 lakh women-owned MSME registrations as of July 2026. Total procurement from women-owned Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) stood at 3.8 per cent in FY26, exceeding the government's 3 per cent public procurement target.
Policy Architecture Supporting Women Entrepreneurs
The Swavalamban Scheme supports young women from business ideation through to enterprise creation, offering entrepreneurship training, finance and market guidance, legal support, and 21 weeks of mentorship and handholding. According to officials, formal recognition, finance, and market access remain the key levers for strengthening women-led enterprises. Notably, the data marks the third consecutive year of improvement across all major women's economic participation indicators tracked by the government.
With LFPR and WPR both trending upward and MSME registrations accelerating, the next milestone to watch is the Yashasvini Campaign's gender parity target on the Udyam platforms by 2029.
Point of View
But context matters. The LFPR jump from 23.3% to 40% is driven significantly by rural women entering the agricultural and self-employment workforce — categories that often carry lower wages and less job security than formal urban employment. The MSME ownership figure of 3.69 crore also warrants scrutiny: registration on the Udyam portal does not automatically mean active, financially viable enterprises. The more telling metric is the 3.8% public procurement from women-owned MSEs exceeding its 3% target — that is a verifiable output, not just a count. The 70% women share in mobile phone manufacturing is a genuine structural win tied to PLI incentives, but scaling that model beyond electronics into higher-value sectors remains the unfinished challenge.
NationPress
15 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many MSMEs in India are women-owned?
About 3.69 crore registered MSMEs in India are women-owned, representing approximately 38 per cent of all MSME registrations, according to an official factsheet released on 15 October 2026. The Yashasvini Campaign alone facilitated over 22 lakh of these registrations by July 2026.
What is India's women's labour force participation rate in 2025?
India's women's labour force participation rate (LFPR) for those aged 15 and above stood at 40 per cent in 2025, up sharply from 23.3 per cent in 2017-18. In absolute terms, this translates to an estimated 20 crore employed women aged 15 and above.
What is the Yashasvini Campaign?
The Yashasvini Campaign is a government initiative aimed at promoting women's participation in entrepreneurship by achieving gender parity on the Udyam Registration Portal and Udyam Assist Platform by 2029. It had facilitated over 22 lakh women-owned MSME registrations as of July 2026.
What is the Swavalamban Scheme for women?
The Swavalamban Scheme supports young women from business ideation to enterprise creation, providing entrepreneurship training, finance and market guidance, and legal support, along with 21 weeks of mentorship. It is designed to help participants build sustainable enterprises.
What share of startups in India have women founders or directors?
Over 1.07 lakh recognised startups had at least one woman director or partner, accounting for approximately 48 per cent of all recognised startups in India. Women also make up nearly 70 per cent of the direct workforce in mobile phone manufacturing as of July 2026.
