Maharashtra MSME loan scheme: CMEGP subsidy, eligibility and how to apply

CMEGP at a glance

CMEGP is a credit-linked subsidy programme of the Government of Maharashtra for new micro and small enterprises, run by the Directorate of Industries (Maharashtra CMEGP guidelines). The state pays margin money, a subsidy on part of the project cost, and a bank lends the rest. The Government Resolution of 21-May-2025 changed the project limits, the subsidy caps and the age rule (Maharashtra CMEGP resolution, 21-May-2025).

Maharashtra has more registered MSMEs than any other state on the Ministry of MSME's Udyam dashboard: 1,22,02,361 as of 03-Oct-2026, including 81,09,099 micro enterprises on Udyam (Ministry of MSME Udyam dashboard).

CMEGP subsidy: the margin money table

The subsidy is a share of the project cost, capped in rupees (Maharashtra CMEGP resolution, 21-May-2025).

Source for every row: Maharashtra CMEGP resolution, 21-May-2025.

Who can apply

• Age and residence. A local resident of Maharashtra with no permanent income, aged at least 18. The 2025 resolution replaced the earlier upper age limit of 45 (Maharashtra CMEGP resolution, 21-May-2025).
• A new unit only. Assistance is for new projects. Existing units, and units that have already had a subsidy under PMEGP or another central or state subsidy scheme, are not eligible (Maharashtra CMEGP guidelines).
• One per family. Only one person from a family, meaning self and spouse, can get assistance (Maharashtra CMEGP guidelines).
• Who may own the unit. Proprietorships, partnerships and registered self-help groups (Maharashtra CMEGP guidelines).

Which businesses qualify

The 2025 resolution lists eligible units across manufacturing, services, agri-allied work, e-vehicle goods transport and single-brand chains, and adds activities such as poultry, egg hatcheries, beekeeping, fisheries, sericulture, home-stays, cloud kitchens, fish sales and tourist boats. A state committee publishes a negative list of activities that do not qualify (Maharashtra CMEGP resolution, 21-May-2025).

What counts in the project cost

• No land. The cost of land is not part of the project cost (Maharashtra CMEGP guidelines).
• Capital expenditure is required. A project with no capital expenditure is not eligible. The cost can include one cycle of working capital (Maharashtra CMEGP guidelines).
• Building cost cap. The work-shed or building can be up to 60% of the project cost for services and agri-allied units, and up to 40% for manufacturing (Maharashtra CMEGP resolution, 21-May-2025).
• No inflated costs. A bank refers an application back to the district committee if it finds the project cost exaggerated to get a higher subsidy (Maharashtra CMEGP guidelines).

How to apply for CMEGP

1. Apply online on maha-cmegp.gov.in. Physical applications are not accepted (Maharashtra CMEGP guidelines).
2. District scrutiny. The District Industries Centre implements the scheme in urban areas and the Khadi and Village Industries Board in rural areas. Projects above ₹25,00,000 go through the District Industries Centre in both (Maharashtra CMEGP guidelines).
3. District approval. A district task force headed by the Collector approves the list and recommends it to banks (Maharashtra CMEGP guidelines).
4. Bank sanction. The bank decides on the project's financial and technical viability under RBI norms (Maharashtra CMEGP guidelines).
5. Training. Complete the entrepreneurship training, online or residential, before the loan is disbursed (Maharashtra CMEGP resolution, 21-May-2025).
6. Margin money. The subsidy is claimed after the bank disburses the loan (Maharashtra CMEGP guidelines).

The portal states that the District Industries Centres and the Khadi and Village Industries Board have engaged no middlemen, agencies or franchises to promote or sanction CMEGP projects (Maharashtra CMEGP portal).

CMEGP or PMEGP?

Both pay margin money on a new unit's bank loan. A unit that has had a PMEGP subsidy cannot get CMEGP (Maharashtra CMEGP guidelines). See the PMEGP guide to compare the central scheme.

Your next step

The bank still decides the loan on your project and your record. Run the free loan readiness check to see how a lender may read your file, and read the project report guide before you apply. Other states are on the state schemes hub.