Institutional Financing and Sustainable Growth of MSMES: Assessing Performance and Prospects

  • Authors

    • Mr. Amar Singh Meena Research scholar at Mittal School of Business, Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar- Delhi, G.T. Road, Phagwara, Punjab (India) -144411
    • Dr. Nitin Gupta Professor at Mittal School of Business, Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar- Delhi, G.T. Road, Phagwara, Punjab (India) -144411
    https://doi.org/10.14419/kk62bv91

    Received date: September 14, 2025

    Accepted date: October 17, 2025

    Published date: November 4, 2025

  • MSMES; Performance; Financial Assistance; Challenges; Growth
  • Abstract

    This study investigates the constraints faced by Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in accessing and utilizing financial assistance across Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Chandigarh. Utilizing a primary data-based approach and a structured Likert-scale ‎questionnaire, the research employed Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) to uncover the underlying dimensions of these constraints. Pre-‎estimation tests confirmed the suitability of the data, and EFA revealed two distinct factors: Procedural and Operational Barriers, and Financial Systemic and Institutional Constraints. The findings indicate that MSMEs struggle not only with complex documentation and collateral ‎requirements but also with limited awareness, digital inaccessibility, and trust deficits in formal financial institutions. These constraints are ‎compounded by regional and demographic disparities, requiring differentiated policy responses. The study concludes that addressing ‎MSME challenges demands an integrated reform framework combining simplified operational processes with system-level institutional ‎transformation. The results contribute meaningfully to policy discourse on inclusive financial access and MSME development in regional ‎economies‎.

  • References

    1. Bhoganadam, S., Rao, N. S., & Dasaraju, S. (2017). A study on issues and challenges faced by SMEs: A literature review. Research Journal of SRNMC, 1(2), 48–57.
    2. Amrinder, P. C. S. (2016). A study of small and medium enterprises (SME) in India on sustainability strategy: Highlighting critical challenges and constraints. Journal of Asia Entrepreneurship and Sustainability, 12(2), 49.
    3. Mittal, V., & Raman, T. V. (2021). Examining the determinants and consequences of financial constraints faced by Micro, Small and Medium En-terprises' owners. World Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, 17(3), 560–581. https://doi.org/10.1108/WJEMSD-07-2020-0089.
    4. Bilal, A. R., Khan, A. A., & Akoorie, M. E. M. (2016). Constraints to growth: A cross country analysis of Chinese, Indian and Pakistani SMEs. Chinese Management Studies, 10(2), 365–386. https://doi.org/10.1108/CMS-06-2015-0127.
    5. Biswas, A. (2015). Opportunities and constraints for Indian MSMEs. International Journal of Research, 2(1), 273–282.
    6. Maheshkar, C., & Soni, N. (2021). Problems faced by Indian micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). SEDME (Small Enterprises Develop-ment, Management & Extension Journal), 48(2), 142–159. https://doi.org/10.1177/09708464211064498.
    7. Singh, S., & Singh, D. (2014). Problems and prospects of small and medium enterprises in India. International Journal of Multi-Disciplinary Engi-neering and Business Management, 2(1), 18–23.
    8. Mukherjee, S. (2018). Challenges to Indian micro small scale and medium enterprises in the era of globalization. Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, 8, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40497-018-0106-6.
    9. Rao, P., Kumar, S., Gaur, V., & Verma, D. (2017). What constitutes financing gap in Indian SMEs–owners’ perspective? Qualitative Research in Financial Markets, 9(2), 117–131. https://doi.org/10.1108/QRFM-01-2017-0001.
    10. Athaide, M., & Pradhan, H. K. (2020). A model of credit constraint for MSMEs in India. Small Business Economics, 55(4), 1159–1177. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-019-00167-4.
    11. Prakash, B., Kumar, I., & Verma, J. K. (2021). Barriers and potential solutions for MSMEs in developing economies: Evidence from In-dia. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 19(4), 325. https://doi.org/10.21511/ppm.19(4).2021.27.
    12. Thakkar, J., Kanda, A., & Deshmukh, S. G. (2012). Supply chain issues in Indian manufacturing SMEs: Insights from six case studies. Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, 23(5), 634–664. https://doi.org/10.1108/17410381211234444.
    13. Singh, D., Khamba, J. S., & Nanda, T. (2018). Problems and prospects of Indian MSMEs: A literature review. International Journal of Business Ex-cellence, 15(2), 129–188. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJBEX.2018.091923.
    14. Genty, K., Idris, K., Wahat, N. A., & Kadir, S. A. (2015). Demographic factors as a predictor of entrepreneurs’ success among micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) owners in Lagos State, Nigeria. IOSR Journal of Business and Management (IOSR-JBM), 17(11), 125–132.
    15. Sanu, M. S., & Anjum, S. (2023). Constraints to the development of MSMEs in Assam, India: Do owner-managers’ background characteristics and firm-specific characteristics matter? Journal of Economic and Administrative Sciences, 39(4), 1277–1301. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEAS-08-2021-0159.
    16. Gupta, U., Agarwal, B., & Nautiyal, N. (2022). Financial technology adoption—A case of Indian MSMEs. Финансы: теория и практика, 26(6), 192–211. https://doi.org/10.26794/2587-5671-2022-26-6-192-211.
    17. Mittal, V., & Raman, T. V. (2021). Examining the determinants and consequences of financial constraints faced by Micro, Small and Medium En-terprises' owners. World Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, 17(3), 560–581. https://doi.org/10.1108/WJEMSD-07-2020-0089.
    18. Harpriya, Sharma, R. K., & Sah, A. N. (2022). Impact of demographic factors on the financial performance of women‐owned micro‐enterprises in India. International Journal of Finance & Economics, 27(1), 6–17. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijfe.2133.
    19. Nijam, H. M. (2016). Owners’ demographics and ownership information in explaining credit repayment behavior of micro small and medium sized enterprises. Journal of Management, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.4038/jm.v9i1.7561.
    20. Pradhan, K., & Nayak, Y. (2025). Entrepreneurial dynamics in MSMEs: Socio-economic determinants from Sundargarh Districts, Odisha. SEDME (Small Enterprises Development, Management & Extension Journal), 09708464251325948. https://doi.org/10.1177/09708464251325948.
    21. Agyeman, C. M., & Ponniah, V. M. (2014). Employee demographic characteristics and their effects on turnover and retention in MSMEs. International Journal of Recent Advances in Organizational Behaviour and Decision Sciences, 1(1), 12–29.
    22. Singh, S., Raj, R., Dash, B. M., Kumar, V., Paliwal, M., & Chauhan, S. (2024). Access to finance and its impact on operational efficiency of MSMEs: Mediating role of entrepreneurial personality and self-efficacy. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSBED-01-2024-0053.
    23. Saha, A., Hock-Eam, L., & Yeok, S. G. (2023). Drivers of MSME loan defaults using survival analysis: Implications for lenders and policy plan-ners. International Journal of Emerging Markets. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOEM-02-2023-0156.
  • Downloads

  • How to Cite

    Meena, M. A. S. ., & Gupta, D. N. . (2025). Institutional Financing and Sustainable Growth of MSMES: Assessing Performance and Prospects. International Journal of Accounting and Economics Studies, 12(7), 129-135. https://doi.org/10.14419/kk62bv91