CHENNAI, 15 October 2026: A World Bank-funded market study of about 600 flagship Indian MSMEs across six sectors, using primary and secondary data, closed its call for expressions of interest today. The study aims to raise sales, improve market access and strengthen quality and environmental standards.
The move reflects a wider shift: funders and lenders now expect evidence before backing growth. India has over 7.4 crore registered MSMEs, which contribute about 31% of GDP and nearly half of exports, according to figures released around MSME Day 2026. Yet most of these enterprises have fewer than ten employees and little access to formal market research.
India’s own research industry is growing quickly. The Market Research Society of India reported revenue growth of about 10.9% to roughly INR 29,008 crore, with analytics the largest segment.
Three questions every founder should answer before investing
- Who exactly will buy, and in which area?
- What will they pay? A simple price-response check (if price rises 5%, how far does demand fall?) shows whether discounting or premium pricing suits the product.
- How does demand change when incomes, seasons or competitors change?
Research does not slow a business down. It stops expensive mistakes.
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Happy Diwali from ARS Market Research Services. Our business guides by Rajalakshmi Dhruvan cover government schemes and loans for MSMEs, 50 low-investment business ideas under Rs 10 lakh, and 100 business opportunities for Tamil Nadu, available on Amazon.
About ARS: ARS Market Research Services Pvt. Ltd., Madipakkam, Chennai, has worked in field research since 2010, with surveys, feasibility studies and impact assessments across India. Phone: 9789976662. Email: admin@arsmrs.in. Website: arsmrs.in