Procurement and Marketing Support (PMS) Scheme

What is the PMS scheme?

Procurement and Marketing Support (PMS) Scheme is a marketing scheme of the Office of the Development Commissioner (MSME), Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. The current guidelines took effect on 26 July 2022, superseding the earlier guidelines of 20 November 2019.

PMS exists because most micro and small enterprises sell through informal, unorganised channels and cannot absorb the cost of exhibiting at a trade fair, getting barcodes onto their packaging, or listing on a marketplace. According to the guidelines issued by the PMS Division, the scheme has five components: domestic trade fairs and exhibitions; international trade fairs and exhibitions; national and international workshops and seminars on marketing, public procurement and packaging; vendor development programmes; and barcode adoption.

Implementing agencies

• The Office of DC (MSME) through MSME-Development Institutes and Technology Centres.
• Other field organisations of the Ministry, NSIC, KVIC and the Coir Board.
• Other Central Ministries through their departments, corporations and autonomous bodies.
• Departments, corporations, autonomous bodies and agencies of State Governments.

Who is eligible for the PMS scheme?

You can apply if:

• You run a manufacturing or service sector micro or small enterprise with a valid Udyam Registration Certificate. That is the stated eligibility condition: there is no separate turnover or vintage test.
• For barcode reimbursement, you are a micro enterprise with Udyam Registration and a registration with GS1 India for the use of barcodes.
• For e-commerce support, you are a micro enterprise with valid Udyam Registration selling through MSME Global Mart.

You cannot apply if:

• You do not hold Udyam Registration. An unregistered firm is not eligible for any PMS benefit.
• You are a medium enterprise seeking the individual participation subsidy, which is designed for micro and small enterprises.
• You have already claimed reimbursement for two events in the same year under the trade fair component.
• You are an individual with no enterprise looking for a personal grant: PMS reimburses business marketing costs and cannot be claimed as personal income support.
• You submit a claim later than 30 days after the event concluded, or have taken similar assistance for the same activity from another government source.

What documents are required for the PMS scheme?

How to apply for the PMS scheme

1. Check the calendar of approved trade fairs, exhibitions and vendor development programmes published by the implementing agency — usually the MSME-Development Institute for your region, or NSIC.
2. Submit the application online in the prescribed format at least two months before the event. For international fairs, applications are recommended by a three-member committee for approval of the Office of DC (MSME).
3. The implementing agency scrutinises the physical and financial viability of the proposal and forwards it online to the Office of DC (MSME) preferably 45 days before the fair begins.
4. The supported Committee, headed by the Secretary or AS&DC (MSME), gives final approval. Offers of participation are made on a first-come, first-served basis, with preference for first-time participants and units from aspirational districts, NER, and SC/ST, women and divyang entrepreneurs.
5. Participate in the event and pay the space rent and travel costs yourself.
6. File the reimbursement claim online in the prescribed format within 30 days of the event concluding, attaching the space rent receipt, travel and freight bills and the non-duplication undertaking.
7. For barcode reimbursement, apply separately in the prescribed form (Annexure-A) to the Director or Head of Office of the MSME-Development Institute of your region, enclosing the GS1 India licence, cash receipt, Udyam certificate, affidavit and undertaking.

How much does the PMS scheme pay?

Individual participation in trade fairs and exhibitions

Reimbursement is allowed for a maximum of two events in a year. The guidelines target participation in a minimum of 100 trade fairs a year with a maximum of 60 participating units per fair.

Barcode adoption. Micro enterprises get 80% of the one-time GS1 India registration fee and the annual recurring fee for the first three years, for up to 100 barcodes, subject to a maximum of Rs 50,650.

E-commerce adoption. Micro enterprises get 75% of the amount paid towards annual membership, subscription and contingency costs; photography, cataloguing, advertising, for selling up to 10 new products on MSME Global Mart, subject to Rs 25,000 per financial year excluding taxes. Claims go to NSIC.

Packaging. Cluster-based interventions for packaging and branding are supported at up to Rs 15 lakh per cluster, delivered through empanelled packaging institutions such as IIP, NID and NIFT.

Vendor development. A CPSE-level two-day Vendor Development Programme cum exhibition is funded at up to Rs 5 lakh per programme, focused on GeM registration and public procurement with CPSEs.

Workshops and seminars. Up to Rs 5 lakh per workshop or seminar anywhere in the country, payable to government or reputed non-government organisations with at least three years of relevant experience.

Virtual trade fairs. Up to Rs 16.45 lakh for organising or participating in a virtual trade fair, subject to conditions including at least 100 exhibitors, 1,000 visitors and a minimum three-day duration.

GI retail outlets. Infrastructure support of up to Rs 30 lakh per outlet in metro and A-class cities and Rs 20 lakh elsewhere for a 500 sq ft outlet selling only Geographical Indication products, with the grant-in-aid limited to Rs 15 lakh and Rs 10 lakh respectively and a matching contribution from the retailer.

How PMS differs from related schemes

PMS reimburses marketing and exhibition costs for micro and small enterprises generally. National SC-ST Hub's SMAS provides a parallel, more generous package specifically for SC/ST-owned enterprises. An SC/ST unit should compare the two before choosing, since assistance cannot be drawn twice for the same event. PMS is unrelated to CGTMSE or PMEGP, which deal with credit, and to ZED and Lean under the MSME Champions Scheme, which deal with quality and productivity.

Help and grievance redressal

• MSME-Development Institute for your region, the implementing agency for domestic fairs and barcode claims
• NSIC for MSME Global Mart e-commerce reimbursement
• Ministry of MSME CHAMPIONS helpline: 1800-180-6763
• Application portal: my.msme.gov.in carries the PMS application links and user manuals for domestic trade fairs, haats, partner organisations and vendor development programmes

No fee is payable to any agent for applying under PMS, and reimbursement is always credited to the enterprise's own bank account.