Quality Certification Reimbursement for Tamil Nadu MSMEs — Up to ₹10L
A Tamil Nadu MSME Department scheme that refunds up to ₹10 lakh of what an enterprise spends on national or international quality certification, including consultancy fees and NABL lab testing charges.
- Funding amount
- ₹2L – ₹10L (subsidy)
- Funding type
- Subsidy
- Provider
- Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Department, Government of Tamil Nadu (Government)
- Application deadline
- Rolling
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Overview
This is a reimbursement scheme, not a loan or an investment. Tamil Nadu's Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Department pays back money an MSME has already spent on getting its products or processes certified, once the claim is checked and cleared. Nothing is repaid and no stake is taken in the business.
Certification bills are one of the heavier one-time costs a small manufacturer faces, and this scheme exists to absorb part of that load. Both national-level standards and international certifications recognised in India by a competent authority are covered, which means a unit in the state can chase the same benchmarks its export rivals hold without footing the entire bill alone.
The reimbursement also stretches to the professional help around certification: fees paid to certification bodies and consultants, plus testing and calibration bills from NABL-accredited laboratories.
Support is capped at ₹2,00,000 for a national-level certification and ₹10,00,000 for an international one, settled against the expenses actually incurred. Claims are accepted round the year with no fixed last date, but the filing has to reach the department within one year of the certification date. The entire process — registration, application, document upload and submission — happens on the state's MSME online portal, and hard copies are never required.
Highlights
- Up to ₹10 lakh back for international certification, up to ₹2 lakh for national-level certification
- Open to MSMEs located in Tamil Nadu
- Rolling applications — no fixed last date to apply
- Claim must be filed within 1 year of the certification date
- Covers consultancy and certification agency fees, plus NABL lab testing and calibration charges
- Fully online process with no hard copies required
Who can apply
The scheme's stated conditions come down to three things: what the applicant is, where it sits, and how quickly it files.
- MSME status: the applicant has to be a Micro, Small or Medium Enterprise.
- Tamil Nadu location: the enterprise must be based in the state.
- One-year filing window: the reimbursement claim must be submitted within 1 year from the date the certification was granted.
Beyond these, the scheme lists no separate sector, stage or promoter conditions, and DPIIT recognition is not part of the stated eligibility. What matters is that the unit is an MSME operating from Tamil Nadu, and that the claim is filed inside the one-year window with valid proof of the certification and the money spent on it.
Quality Certification Reimbursement for Tamil Nadu MSMEs — Up to ₹10L is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Deadline & timing
Quality Certification Reimbursement for Tamil Nadu MSMEs — Up to ₹10L accepts applications on a rolling basis — there is no fixed cut-off date, so eligible startups can apply at any time. Because rolling programmes can pause without notice, confirm the window is still open on the official site before you start.
What the funding covers
The scheme refunds eligible certification-related spending rather than handing out a fresh lump sum, and the payout is tied to what was actually paid.
- Up to ₹2,00,000 for a National Level Certification.
- Up to ₹10,00,000 for an International Level Certification.
- Fees paid to certification bodies and consultancy agencies while obtaining the certification.
- Testing and calibration charges billed by NABL-accredited laboratories.
- No equity dilution and no repayment obligation — the amount is a straight reimbursement against verified expense proof.
The money effectively lowers the cost of reaching recognised quality standards, which helps a small unit stay compliant with regulatory requirements and compete in markets that demand certified products and processes.
About the provider
Quality Certification Reimbursement for Tamil Nadu MSMEs — Up to ₹10L is offered by Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, a government body. As a government-backed subsidy, it is publicly funded and open to eligible startups across India.
How to apply
Applications are submitted on the . Confirm the current deadline and document checklist there before you start.
Selection process
Every claim is filed online, and the review that follows is a verification exercise rather than a competition between applicants.
- Online submission: the application form and scanned supporting documents are lodged through the state MSME portal.
- Departmental review: the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Department, Government of Tamil Nadu — through the GM/DIC / RJD office — takes up the application.
- Eligibility check: the department confirms the applicant is an MSME meeting all the stated conditions.
- Document scrutiny: payment proofs for consultancy and certification are examined for validity and completeness.
- Authenticity verification: the certification acquired and the expenses claimed are checked to confirm both are genuine.
- Guideline compliance: the claim is measured against scheme rules before any payout.
- Reimbursement: on clearance, the approved reimbursement is processed.
Applicants can follow the progress of their file on the portal's status-tracking page, and updates may also reach them by email or SMS.
Documents you’ll need
Before you apply to Quality Certification Reimbursement for Tamil Nadu MSMEs — Up to ₹10L, keep the following documents ready:
- A pitch deck or short business plan describing the problem, product and traction
- Company registration documents and PAN
- Founder identification (PAN / Aadhaar) and brief profiles
- Recent financial statements or projections
- Product details — a demo, prototype or working link if available
Exact requirements are confirmed on the official application portal — treat this as a preparation checklist.
Who this is best for
Quality Certification Reimbursement for Tamil Nadu MSMEs — Up to ₹10L is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹2L – ₹10L. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.
Frequently asked questions
How much money can an MSME actually get back under this scheme?
A national-level certification can fetch up to ₹2,00,000, while an international-level certification can bring up to ₹10,00,000. The payout is a reimbursement, so it is limited to the expenses you genuinely incurred and can prove with payment records.
Is there a deadline to apply?
There is no fixed last date — applications run on a rolling basis throughout the year. The deadline that does matter is personal to you: the claim must be filed within one year from the date your certification was issued, so it is best to file soon after the certificate arrives.
Who is eligible to claim this reimbursement?
The applicant must be a Micro, Small or Medium Enterprise, and the enterprise has to be located in Tamil Nadu. Those are the stated conditions, along with filing the claim within the one-year window. No specific industry, business stage or promoter profile is prescribed.
What costs does the reimbursement cover?
It covers what you paid certification bodies and consultancy agencies while obtaining the certification, and it also takes in testing and calibration bills raised by NABL-accredited laboratories. This spreads the relief across the entire certification exercise rather than just the certificate fee.
Which certifications qualify for support?
National-level standards and international quality certifications for products or processes are both covered, provided the international certification is recognised in India by a competent authority. In effect, the scheme supports certifications that carry credibility in the markets you sell into.
Does the scheme take equity or expect repayment?
Neither. This is a government reimbursement, which makes it non-dilutive — you keep full ownership of your business and you do not return the money. Once your claim clears verification, the approved amount is paid out as support against expenses you have already borne.
Do I need DPIIT recognition or MSME registration to apply?
The eligibility conditions centre on MSME status and a Tamil Nadu base; DPIIT recognition is not listed among the requirements. If your unit qualifies as an MSME in the state, that is the status the department will look at while reviewing your application.
What documents are needed and do I have to send hard copies?
You need proof of the payments made to consultancy and certification agencies, along with the certification itself and the other mandatory documents the portal asks for, uploaded in the specified format and size. Everything is submitted online, and no hard copies have to be sent to GM/DIC / RJD by post or handed over in person.
How do I apply for the reimbursement?
Go to the Tamil Nadu MSME portal at msmeonline.tn.gov.in and register with your name, date of birth, Aadhaar number, email and mobile number, choosing a password with at least 8 characters including an upper case letter, a lower case letter and a number. Log in with the credentials sent to your email and phone, pick the scheme from the Schemes menu, start a new application, fill in the form and note the reference number. Then upload your documents under the Upload Documents option, verify them, tick the confirmation boxes and submit. The full scheme details are also published at msmetamilnadu.tn.gov.in/q-cert.php.
Can I check where my application stands?
Yes. The portal has a tracking page where you can look up the current status of your application at any time, and the department may also send you email or SMS updates as the file moves forward.
Who offers Quality Certification Reimbursement for Tamil Nadu MSMEs — Up to ₹10L?
Quality Certification Reimbursement for Tamil Nadu MSMEs — Up to ₹10L is offered by Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, a government body. It is provided as non-dilutive funding.
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