•   Small scale industries, refer to those partnerships, corporations, or sole proprietorships that function on a lower scale, employing a smaller workforce and generating less revenue than that by normal-sized industries or businesses.

•   small-scale industry is based on the value of the plant and machinery investment in a unit.

•   Small scale enterprises can also refer to those businesses that apply for government support or avail preferential tax policies, depending on their area of operation.

•   As per the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Act of 2006, the eligibility criteria to identify small industries are:

o  The investment in the plant, machinery and equipment should not exceed INR 10 crore; and

o  The annual turnover should not be above INR 50 crore.

•   The main characteristics of small scale industries include sole ownership or a small partnership, concentrated management with control resting in the hands of the owner, more flexible towards changing demands of businesses, labour intensive industry and limited operation reach, thereby fulfilling the local demands.

• A separate Department of Commerce was first created in the Government of India in 1921.
• After independence in 1951, the Department of Commerce was redesignated as the Ministry of Commerce
• Since 2000, It administers two departments:
• The Department of Commerce
• The Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade.