Banglashree EES — Up to ₹2 Lakh Energy Efficiency Subsidy for MSMEs — Frequently Asked Questions

There are two payouts. You receive 50% of what you paid a certified agency for an energy audit, provided you go on to implement the audit's recommendations, and 25% of the cost of the energy conservation installations those recommendations identified. The installation reimbursement is capped at ₹2,00,000.

The scheme is open to micro, small and medium enterprises in the manufacturing sector. Commercial production must have started on or after 1 April 2019, and the date of commencement of commercial production has to fall between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2025. Private sector units, cooperative units, joint sector undertakings, state government-owned undertakings and Industrial SHGs all qualify.

The scheme is in force until 31 March 2025. The first application must be submitted within 12 months of the date of commencement of commercial production, or within 12 months of the date the Banglashree scheme was notified — whichever is later — and it cannot extend past the end of the scheme. The production start date itself must sit inside the 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2025 window.

No. EES is a subsidy that operates as a reimbursement: you incur the cost first and then claim a defined share of it back. There is no equity stake taken and no repayment obligation.

The audit reimbursement applies where the audit was carried out by a certified agency and its recommendations have been implemented, so the claim is tied to acting on the findings. The installation claim, in turn, covers 25% of the cost of the energy conservation measures that the audit identified. The two are linked: the audit shows where savings lie, and the installation claim helps pay for realising them.

Applications go through the Shilpasathi portal. You create a new user registration, entering your applicant type and registration number and completing the mandatory fields, then log in with your username and password or an OTP. From the dashboard choose 'ALL SERVICES' and select 'MSME Incentive', create a CAF to obtain a CAF ID and apply online. You fill in the eligibility form, complete the Common Application Form, move to Online Form – A, and in the 'Apply Subsidy' section select the year-wise subsidy items. The 'Fill Up Subsidy' tab is where you enter the year-wise details and breakups, after which documents are uploaded, the details previewed, and the application submitted through 'Verify & Submit' along with the declaration. A reference number is issued once submission is complete, which you can use to track status.

The scheme sits under Banglashree for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, and the eligibility criteria list covers micro, small and medium manufacturing units. The reimbursement amounts, however, are described for micro and small enterprises.

Two dates matter. Commercial production must have begun on or after 1 April 2019, and the date of commencement of commercial production (DOCCP) must fall within 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2025.

Banglashree is the umbrella programme for micro, small and medium enterprises in West Bengal, built around goals such as balanced industrial development, resource utilisation, employment generation and a stronger MSME sector in the state. EES — Subsidy for Energy Efficiency — is one sub-scheme within it, focused specifically on reimbursing the cost of energy audits by certified agencies and the installations that follow from them.

It is a Government of West Bengal scheme delivered by the Department of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Textiles, aimed at manufacturing enterprises in the state. It has been operational since 1 April 2020 and runs until 31 March 2025.

No. DPIIT (Startup India) recognition is not listed as a mandatory requirement for Banglashree EES — Up to ₹2 Lakh Energy Efficiency Subsidy for MSMEs, though having it can strengthen your application and unlock other benefits.

Banglashree EES — Up to ₹2 Lakh Energy Efficiency Subsidy for MSMEs is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.