The Lok Sabha passed the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill 2026 on Friday after the Rajya Sabha approved it on Monday.
The bill aims to simplify conflict resolution and handle payment delays experienced by MSMEs.
In the Lower House, the MSME minister Jitan Ram Manjhi introduced the measure to improve cash flows for MSMEs, the new law requires all Central Public Sector Enterprises to pay all procurement invoices using the Trade Receivables Discounting System.
If a matter is still unresolved after six months, it requires courts to issue at least 50% of the disputed awarded sums to MSMEs and mandates that mediation be finished within 90 days in the event of disputes.
It also changes lesser registration or reporting defaults from criminal convictions to graded administrative warnings and monetary penalties ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,00,000.
After the Presiding Officer Dilip Saikia approved the Bill despite the Opposition’s commotion, he made an effort to run the House and pleaded with the protesting members to let it do its job.
He expressed discontent about the disturbances, saying that such demonstrations are unsuitable for the democratic framework of the nation.
The House’s operations are hampered, according to Saikia, by the repeated presentation of banners and posters and by interference with the process.
The Presiding Officer urged members to resume their seats and engage in a constructive discourse, stating that they would be given ample opportunity to voice their concerns.
He reiterated that all members are responsible for upholding the House’s dignity and that business must proceed without a hitch.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju voiced worry over the Opposition’s actions, stating that Home Minister Amit Shah is always present in Parliament until late at night.
Due to the ongoing commotion, the Presiding Officer postponed the House for the day and scheduled the next meeting for Monday at 11:00 AM.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla paid glowing tributes to the freedom fighters and martyrs of the Quit India Movement when the House gathered at 11 a. m. since August 9 is the movement’s 84th anniversary.