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Business & Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneur Support Scheme

Entrepreneur Support Scheme (ESS) is the most popular & attractive scheme operated by the Directorate of Industries and Commerce.The scheme aims to provide financial assistance to Micro,Small&Medium Enterprises engaged in manufacturing activities in the State,proportional to capital investment made.

Authority

State

Region

Kerala

Status

Verified 2026

Updated

March 2026

What you get

- Provides Subsidy for the investment in Land, Building, Plant and machinery, Electrification, Essential Office Equipment, Pollution Control Devices, and other fixed assets. | - For the General Category, assistance is 15% of the capital investment limited to ₹30 lakh. | - For Young (18 to 45 years), Women, SC/ST, and Non-Resident Keralite (NRK) entrepreneurs, the assistance is 25% limited to ₹40 lakh. | - Enterprises in priority sectors are eligible for an additional assistance of 10% limited to ₹10 lakh. | - MSMEs started in the districts of Idukki, Wayanad, Kasargode and Pathanamthitta are eligible for an additional support of 10% limited to ₹10 lakh. | - Enterprises set up after acquiring new technology from approved research institutions are eligible for additional support of 10% limited to ₹10 lakh. | - The total eligible assistance for an enterprise is limited to ₹40 lakh.

Who can apply

All Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises engaged in manufacturing activities and set up in the State, which had filed Entrepreneurs Memorandum Part I/II with the respective General Manager; District Industries Centre shall be eligible for this assistance.; For the purpose of this scheme an industrial unit eligible for the Entrepreneur Support assistance shall be an independent legal entity.; The applicant shall provide all required details and declare such information as to be true.; The applicant shall pay the requisite application fee.; The applicant shall provide clarifications or further details sought by the recommending/sanctioning authority.; The applicant shall allow inspection or verification of any details mentioned in the application including plant and machinery and all other assets if so required by the recommending/sanctioning authority.; The applicant shall produce originals of any important documents if so required by the recommending/sanctioning authority for verification.; The applicant shall execute the requisite legal agreement online and if required on paper as and when the proposal is approved for implementation and furnish the signed hard copy subsequently via post or otherwise.; The applicant shall utilize the amount received only in the manner agreed upon.; The applicant shall operate the unit as stipulated in the agreement in which the quantum of support received failing which the assistance shall be resumed by restoring the provisions of Kerala Revenue Recovery Act.; The applicant unit after availing the assistance shall furnish copies of balance sheets, valid license from local body, electricity bills, performance particulars in the prescribed proforma, etc. every year till the stipulated period before the 31st December of the next financial year, as proof of their functioning to the notified authority.

Required Paperwork

  • Aadhaar Card
  • PAN Card
  • Income Certificate
  • Residence Proof (Domicile)

Common Questions

What is the aim of the scheme?

The scheme aims to provide financial assistance to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises engaged in manufacturing activities in the State, proportional to the capital investment made.

What is the objective of the scheme?

The objective of the scheme is to provide extensive support to micro, small and medium enterprises and give one-time support to entrepreneurs, with due regard to special categories by optimal utilization of funds and giving more flexibility of operation while implementing the Scheme.

When did this scheme become operational?

The scheme is operational w.e.f. 01.04.2012.

Which is the implementing department of this scheme?

Industries & Commerce Department, Government of Kerala

What does 'Entrepreneur' mean?

A person who has filed Entrepreneur Memorandum as per MSMED Act 2006 before the Industries Department and has taken effective steps to set up an industrial unit. (For the purpose of this scheme "effective steps" means purchase of land, apply for bank loan, placing orders for purchase of machinery or other demonstrable event in the life cycle of an industry.

What does 'Enterprise' mean?

An industrial unit falling under Micro, Small or Medium category in the MSMED Act 2006.

What does “Women enterprise” mean?

An enterprise in which at least 50% of the promoters are women.

What does “Young entrepreneur” mean?

An entrepreneur between the age of 18 and 45. In case of more than one promoter, then to be eligible for assistance under this Scheme, all the promoters shall be between the age of 18 and 45. At the time of filing application for assistance under Entrepreneur Support Scheme, the entrepreneur (s) should have attained 18 years of age as on the 1st April of the concerned financial year and should not have attained 46 years of age as on the 1st April of the concerned financial year.

What does “Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe entrepreneur” mean?

An entrepreneur belonging to Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes under The Constitution Amendment (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950/The Constitution Amendment (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 (as amended by Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Orders (Amendment) Act, 1976. In case of more than one promoter, then to be eligible for assistance under this Scheme, at least 50 % of the promoters shall be SC/ST.

What does “Negative List” mean?

List of Industries declared by Government from time to time, which are not to be encouraged by giving any Government financial assistance.

What does “Pucca’ building” mean?

Buildings used exclusively for industrial purpose; designed to be solid and permanent; built of substantial material such as stone, brick, cement, concrete with RCC roof.

What does “Semi-pucca’ building” mean?

Buildings built without substantial material such as stone, brick, cement, concrete and without RCC roof. In some such cases the building roof will be on four pillars without side walls.

What does “New Technology” mean?

Technology developed and transferred by recognized institutions.

What does “Recommending Authority” mean?

Kerala Financial Corporation in case of units financed by KFC and Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation in case of units financed by KSIDC. In all other cases, the recommending authority shall be the respective General Manager, District Industries Centres. The recommending authority shall accept applications, receive due application fees, process the applications, place them before the sanctioning authority and disburse the assistance.

What does “Sanctioning authority” mean?

General Manager, District Industries Centres in case of assistance for Startup support. The District Level Committees in case of Technology Support and the District/State Level Committees in case of Investment Support.

What does “Bio fertilizers” mean?

A substance which contains living microorganisms which, enrich soil fertility and fulfill plant nutrient requirements by supplying the organic nutrients through microorganism and their by-products.

Which types of enterprises are eligible to get the benefits of the scheme?

All Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises engaged in manufacturing activities and set up in the State, which had filed Entrepreneurs Memorandum Part I/II with the respective General Manager, District Industries Centre shall be eligible for this assistance.

Which types of industries are not eligible to get the benefits under the scheme?

The industries included in the Negative List and notified as such from time to time, Government controlled industries, public sector undertakings, units started by Government controlled agencies and units financed by KVIC/KVIB etc. shall not be eligible for any assistance under these rules.

What is the benefit of the scheme?

Depending upon the category of the investor, sector, and the District of investment, the unit can avail subsidy from 15% to 45% of the fixed capital investment.

What is the maximum assistance given to the enterprises under the scheme?

The total eligible assistance for an enterprise is limited to [?]40 lakh.

What are the Priority Sectors which are considered under the scheme?

Rubber-based industries, Agro based and Food processing industries, Readymade Garments, Industries manufacturing equipment and machinery for non-conventional energy generation, Biotechnology industries, 100% export-oriented units, Biodegradable plastic industries, Plastic waste recycling industries, Bio fertilizer industries, Pharmaceutical industries and healthcare products manufacturing industries.

What are the Enterprises under the Negative List?

Service Enterprises, Photo Studios and Colour Processing Centres, Tailoring other than manufacturing of readymade garments, Breweries and Distilleries of all types, Saw mills, Soap Grade Sodium Silicate, Asbestos processing, Metal Crushers including Granite Manufacturing units, All types of Steel Re rolling Mills, Units manufacturing iron ingots, Calcium Carbide, Cement manufacturing except units manufacturing cement from fly ash, Potassium Chlorate, Power intensive units.

How can an applicant apply under the scheme?

All applications for assistance under the "Entrepreneur Support Scheme" shall be submitted online by the applicant through the designated website (https://ess.kerala.gov.in/login) of the Industries Department and produce the originals along with details of acknowledgment received at the time of filing online, before the Recommending Authority.