In a bustling industrial estate in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, a sole proprietor runs a textile manufacturing unit with just 15 employees. Three states away, in Pune, Maharashtra, a tech startup is revolutionising supply chain management for local retailers. Meanwhile, in Idukki, Kerala, a family-run spice export business is bringing the flavors of India to tables across Southeast Asia.What connects these diverse entrepreneurs? They're all part of India's nearly 66 million-strong MSME sector, the country's economic backbone that contributes over 45% to exports, 30% to GDP, and employs over 250 million people. And now, they all have a chance to be recognised on the nation's most prestigious platform for small and medium enterprises.The ET MSME Awards 2025, organised by Economictimes.com, returns for another edition of what has become India's largest celebration of entrepreneurial excellence in the MSME sector. This prestigious event features 22 categories across manufacturing, services, and trade, recognising not just trailblazing entrepreneurs and companies, but also early-stage startups and large enterprise enablers of the MSME ecosystem. Here they are:Overall Industry Awards (one each for Automobile & OEM, Pharma & Healthcare, Electrical & Electronics, and Clothing & Apparel)Indian MSME of the Year (one each for service, manufacturing, and trade sectors)Top Exporter of the Year Award (one each for service, manufacturing, and trade sectors)Top-performing Listed SMEIndian MSME Women Entrepreneur of the Year (one each for micro, small, and medium enterprises)Indian MSME Enabler Award (one each for Tech & Innovation and Banking & Financing)India's Top Innovative MSME of the Year (one each for micro, small, and medium enterprises)India’s Fastest-growing MSME (one each for micro, small, and medium enterprises)Nominate yourself for one or more categories NOWBeyond the numbers: stories that matterLive EventsThe ET MSME Awards are unrivalled in both scale and scope. The 22 categories represent the full spectrum of India's entrepreneurial landscape and acknowledge that excellence comes in many forms. A small-scale manufacturer in Rajkot who has perfected a cost-effective production process deserves recognition alongside a Bengaluru-based fintech startup that's democratising credit access for rural entrepreneurs. A family-run export business that's been quietly building international partnerships for decades stands shoulder-to-shoulder with a young social enterprise that's solving community problems through innovative business models.The democratic platform of excellenceWhat makes these awards significant is their democratic nature. Indian enterprises that adhere to the definition of MSME as classified by the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises are eligible to apply. This means that whether you're a micro enterprise with an investment of under Rs 1 crore or a medium enterprise with up to Rs 50 crore in plant and machinery, you have an equal shot at recognition.The categories span the entire business ecosystem. Manufacturing companies that have innovated in production processes compete for honours alongside service providers who have redefined customer experience. Trading businesses that have built robust distribution networks are recognised alongside tech companies that are creating entirely new markets.The ripple effect of recognitionFor many MSME owners, recognition at this level isn't merely about the trophy or certificate, but about validation. It's about being seen in a business environment where small companies often feel invisible next to their larger counterparts.“This honour is the outcome of 25 years of hard work and dedication. It’s an exhilarating feeling. We are motivated to aim for sustained success and excellence in the future,” says Namrata Modi, Executive Director, Prevest DenPro Limited. Prevest DenPro won the ‘Indian MSME Women Entrepreneur - Small’ category at the 2024 edition of the ET MSME Awards.Arun Agarwal, Founder and CEO of medtech startup Janitri Innovations Private Limited, echoes Modi’s sentiment. Janitri won the ‘Top Innovative MSME of the Year Award - Micro’ at the 2024 Awards.“Being recognised as the top innovator in our category validates our sustained efforts to develop indigenous medical devices,” he says. “Such support is crucial for MSMEs.”The awards also serve as a powerful networking platform. Winners and nominees often find themselves connecting with like-minded entrepreneurs, potential partners, and even investors who are specifically looking for promising smaller companies to support.India’s biggest MSME Awards are calling. Nominate your business nowThe innovation imperativeOne of the most compelling aspects of the ET MSME Awards is how they highlight innovation at every level. This isn't just about tech companies developing new software or apps; it's about a traditional leather goods manufacturer in Kanpur who has developed an eco-friendly tanning process, or a food processing company in Himachal Pradesh that has created a unique preservation technique for organic produce.Innovation in the MSME sector often happens out of necessity. Resource constraints force entrepreneurs to think creatively, to find ways to do more with less. The awards celebrate this uniquely Indian ability to create effective solutions through improvisation and ingenuity.Building tomorrow's business juggernautsThe recognition extends beyond established businesses to early-stage companies, acknowledging that today's startups are tomorrow's large enterprises. This forward-looking approach ensures that the awards remain relevant to India's evolving business landscape.The categories within the 22 award segments recognise that entrepreneurship is not just about scaling existing business models, but about creating entirely new ones. They celebrate ventures that solve uniquely Indian problems, whether it's developing affordable healthcare solutions for rural areas or creating sustainable alternatives to traditional manufacturing processes.The enabler economyPerhaps most importantly, the awards recognise that MSMEs don't operate in isolation. They're part of an ecosystem that includes larger enterprises, financial institutions, technology providers, and government bodies. The large enterprise enabler categories acknowledge companies that have made significant contributions to supporting and nurturing the MSME sector.This recognition of the support system is crucial because it encourages more established companies to invest in MSME development. When large corporations see that their MSME support initiatives can earn them recognition, they're more likely to expand these programmes.A platform for aspirationsAs India moves toward becoming a $5 trillion economy, the role of MSMEs becomes even more critical. They're not just contributors to this growth, but the engines that will drive it. The ET MSME Awards serve as both a celebration of current achievements and a platform for future aspirations.For every winner, there are dozens of nominees who benefit from the process of application itself. The exercise of documenting their achievements, articulating their vision, and presenting their business story often helps entrepreneurs see their own companies with fresh eyes and renewed confidence.The human stories behind the statisticsWhile the numbers are impressive—millions of MSMEs, hundreds of crores in revenue, countless jobs created—the real story of the ET MSME Awards is human. It's about recognition, aspiration, and the belief that in India, if you have a good idea and the determination to pursue it, you can build something meaningful.It's about the textile manufacturer in Coimbatore who started with a single loom and now exports to three countries. It's about the tech entrepreneur in Pune who left a cushy corporate job to solve a problem he was passionate about. It's about the spice exporter in Kerala who is carrying forward a family tradition while embracing modern business practices.The ET MSME Awards 2025 offer thousands like them a chance to step into the spotlight and be lauded for what they truly are: the unsung heroes of India's economic success story.In a country where big business often dominates the headlines, the ET MSME Awards ensure that small businesses get their moment to shine. And in that moment, they inspire countless others to dream, to start, and to grow. Because in the end, that's what makes an economy truly strong: not just the giants, but the multitude of smaller companies that form its foundation.Register for the ET Awards 2025 before August 31, 2025 Read More News onet msme awardsnowbeyondnamrata modimatterthe et msme awardsjanitri innovations private limitedimperativeoneindiahimachal pradesh Read More News onet msme awardsnowbeyondnamrata modimatterthe et msme awardsjanitri innovations private limitedimperativeoneindiahimachal pradesh Prime ExclusivesInvestment IdeasStock Report PlusePaperWealth Edition123View all Stories