The Rajya Sabha on Monday passed the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026, aimed at speeding up resolution of delayed payment disputes and improving cash flow for MSMEs, even as the proceedings were repeatedly disrupted by Opposition members demanding a discussion on police action against students protesting the alleged NEET paper leak.
The bill, cleared by a voice vote, seeks to strengthen the legal framework governing delayed payments to micro, small and medium enterprises by prescribing timelines for dispute resolution, enabling recovery of mediated settlement agreements and arbitral awards, and addressing liquidity constraints faced by the sector.