‘Corporate Mitra’ Aims To Take The Fear Out Of Compliance, Make Regulatory Know-How Easier For MSMEs

New Delhi: The government's Corporate Mitra program aims to simplify regulatory compliance for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by providing a team of trained paraprofessionals to offer affordable professional assistance. Introduced in the Union Budget 2026-27, the scheme intends to alleviate the compliance burden on entrepreneurs, while aiding smaller businesses in understanding and adhering to regulatory requirements.

Anita Shah Akela, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, explained that the initiative aims to change compliance from a hindrance to a catalyst for trust, transparency, accountability, and orderly growth. The program combines professional expertise from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), the Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICSI), and the Institute of Company Accountants of India (ICoAI), along with technological and academic support from IIT Madras, IIT Madras Pravartak, and SWAYAM Plus.

The government has already launched the Corporate Mitra course, with 2,879 learners enrolled in the first cohort. The launch of the Corporate Mitra Learning Management System marks the beginning of the program's structured learning and skill-building phase. The 12-month course is structured into two stages, with participants completing around 150 hours of academic learning via recorded video lectures during the first six months.

Following this, they will undergo six months of hands-on training with professional firms run by members of ICAI, ICSI, and ICoAI.

The Corporate Mitra Course is designed to create a skilled pool of certified paraprofessionals who can assist MSMEs in compliance, formalization, and ease of doing business. By doing so, the program also aims to generate employment and promote inclusive economic growth.