Addressing the CII Global MSME Business Summit, MSME Secretary Bharat Khera emphasized that small and medium enterprises must prioritize product quality, technological upgrades, and cost competitiveness to leverage India’s expanding network of Free Trade Agreements. While bronze-level Zero Defect, Zero Effect (ZED) certifications have increased among MSMEs, the uptake for silver and gold tiers remains low, prompting the ministry to partner with the Quality Council of India to raise manufacturing standards. On the agricultural policy front, Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare confirmed that the government has no plans to reduce import duties on pulses, as domestic Kharif crop prospects remain unaffected by El Nino. India’s pulse buffer stock has reached a record 4.5 million tonnes against a norm of 3.5 million tonnes, providing adequate reserves to manage price volatility. Although retail inflation for pulses stood at 4.68% in September 2026, the government will release buffer stocks in a calibrated manner post-Rabi sowing rather than lowering import tariffs.