How GST ensured fast credit growth to MSMEs

The Finance Ministry has expressed confidence that India’s economy is poised to become the world’s third largest within the next three years, with a projected GDP of USD 5 trillion, up from the current USD 3.7 trillion. India's consistent outperformance against market expectations has firmly established it as one of the fastest growing economies globally. The banking sector is integral to maintaining the country's stability, which is pivotal for economic growth. However, recent years have witnessed a significant decline in year-on-year (y-o-y) credit growth in India, largely attributed to the economic impact of the pandemic. Despite strong credit demand, deposit growth has not kept pace with loans, leading to a notable increase in the overall loans-to-deposits ratio.

In January 2024, credit to the industry expanded by 7.8% y-o-y, down from the 8.7% growth recorded in January 2023. Similarly, non-food bank credit grew by 16.2% y-o-y in January 2024, compared to 16.7% in the previous year. On the other hand, credit to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) experienced a notable surge, with a y-o-y growth of 20%, indicating improved lender confidence and increased credit availability to this sector.

GST has significantly driven two key outcomes: an increase in MSME registrations and a positive rise in credit extended to MSMEs. The number of new MSME registrations has surged from 0.5 million in the fiscal year 2017-18 to an impressive 15 million in the fiscal year 2023-24 (Year-to-Date as of December 2024). While GST was introduced to streamline a convoluted tax system and unify businesses under a single tax framework to enhance national tax compliance, its implementation has particularly benefited MSMEs. This is largely due to adopting a fully online GST compliance module, which has regulated a significant portion of the previously unorganized sector, thereby fostering a favorable environment for MSME growth.