Udyog Aadhaar Registration: Process, Benefits, and Documents for MSMEs

With over 42.5 million units, and comprising over 95% of the industrial establishments in the country, the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector is the foundation of India’s economic growth. It is responsible for 45% of the total Indian manufacturing output. To facilitate the efforts of this sector, the Ministry of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) India, with the Government of India, launched the Udyog Aadhaar facility for Udyog Aadhaar registration.

In summary

Udyog Aadhaar registration was discontinued on July 1, 2020, and replaced by Udyam Registration, so new UAM registrations are no longer accepted.

• Udyam registration: It is free and permanent, with integration across PAN, GST, and Income Tax databases.
• MSME classification: Micro enterprises can have investment up to Rs. 1 crore and turnover up to Rs. 5 crore; Small up to Rs. 10 crore and Rs. 50 crore; and Medium up to Rs. 50 crore and Rs. 250 crore, respectively.
• Online registration: The aadhar udyog online registration system has been replaced by the Udyam Registration process for new MSME registrations.
• Financial benefits: Eligible MSMEs may access collateral-free loans under CGTMSE and applicable interest rebates on overdrafts, subject to scheme conditions.
• Business financing: MSME registration benefits can complement other funding options, including business loans.

Eligible businesses can also explore a Bajaj Finance Business Loan of up to Rs. 80 lakh, with no collateral and approval in under 48 hours, subject to applicable eligibility and lending criteria.
 

What is Udyog Aadhaar?

Udyog Aadhaar (UAM) was a government registration for MSMEs, launched in September 2015 and discontinued on July 1, 2020. It simplified MSME registration by providing businesses with a unique identification number and enabling access to applicable government benefits through a streamlined online process. Udyog Aadhaar registration was part of the earlier MSME registration framework before the Government introduced the Udyam system.

Udyog Aadhaar (UAM) was officially discontinued on July 1, 2020 and replaced by Udyam Registration. If you registered under UAM before July 2020, you must migrate to Udyam Registration to continue accessing MSME benefits. Eligible businesses can also explore a Bajaj Finance Business Loan, subject to applicable eligibility and lending criteria.

Eligibility for Udyog Aadhaar

Udyog Aadhaar registration eligibility was based on investment in plant and machinery and annual turnover under the MSMED Act, helping answer who is eligible for Udyog Aadhar.

Note: These investment and turnover thresholds now apply to Udyam Registration, the replacement for Udyog Aadhaar. These criteria continue to define eligibility for MSME registration India.

Udyog Aadhaar registration

Udyog Aadhaar registration (UAM) was a simplified online registration for MSMEs, introduced in September 2015 and replaced by Udyam Registration on July 1, 2020. The earlier Udyog Aadhaar online registration process provided eligible businesses with a unique identification number and a simpler route to access applicable MSME benefits and schemes. 

From July 1, 2020, the Ministry of MSME replaced Udyog Aadhaar with Udyam Registration, a fully digital, paperless process integrated with PAN, GSTIN, and Income Tax databases; existing UAM holders were required to migrate by June 30, 2022.

UAM (Udyog Aadhaar Memorandum)

The Udyog Aadhaar Memorandum (UAM) was a single-page, free-of-charge self-certification form used for MSME registration, under the earlier Udyog Aadhaar system. It captured basic enterprise and business details submitted by the applicant through self-certification, after which a Unique Aadhaar Number (UAN) was issued to identify the registered enterprise. The Udyog Aadhaar system helped eligible MSMEs access applicable government schemes and benefits without extensive paperwork.

Note: UAM registration has been officially discontinued. New MSMEs must now register under Udyam Registration through udyamregistration.gov.in.
 

Conditions for Udyog Aadhaar Memorandum Registration

These were the conditions under which Udyog Aadhaar Memorandum registration was available; UAM was discontinued on July 1, 2020 and replaced by Udyam Registration.

• The enterprise had to qualify as an MSME under applicable investment and turnover limits.
• The applicant needed a valid Aadhaar number.
• The Aadhaar-linked mobile number was required for OTP verification.
• The applicant had to provide the enterprise name and business address.
• PAN details had to be provided where applicable.
• The applicant had to specify the relevant business activity and NIC code.
• Bank account details were required for the registered enterprise.

Note: These legacy conditions should not be treated as a current application route; Udyam Registration now governs MSME registration.

Udyog Aadhaar free registration process

To get Udyog Aadhaar number under the legacy UAM process, these were the steps; however, UAM registration is no longer active and the current equivalent is Udyam Registration.

Note: UAM registration is no longer active. The process below is for reference only. New MSME registrations must be completed at udyamregistration.gov.in.

• Log on to the official Udyog Aadhaar website: Access the portal used for aadhar udyog online registration.
• Enter Aadhaar number and entrepreneur name: Provide the required Aadhaar and name details.
• Click "Validate and generate OTP": Select the option to initiate OTP verification.
• Enter OTP: Enter the OTP received on the registered mobile number.
• Fill in enterprise details: Provide the enterprise name and organisation type.
• Enter business activity: Select the applicable NIC code and major activity.
• Review the details: Check all information carefully for accuracy.
• Click "Submit": Submit the completed application.
• Enter the second OTP: Provide the OTP received for final authentication.
• Complete registration: Click "Submit" to complete registration and receive the UAN through email.

For current Udyog Aadhaar registration, visit the official Udyam Registration portal instead.
 

Objectives to provide Udyog Aadhaar registration

• Simplification: Streamlining the registration process for MSMEs.
• Identification: Assigning a unique number to each enterprise.
• Accessibility: Facilitating easy access to various government benefits and schemes.
• Credit facilitation: Enhancing access to credit for MSMEs.
• Government support: Enabling participation in government procurement processes.
• Subsidies: Making MSMEs eligible for subsidies and incentives.
• Visibility: Increasing visibility and recognition of small businesses.
• Promoting growth: Contributing to the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises.
• Economic development: Fostering overall economic development through the empowerment of small businesses.
• Digital transformation: Embracing online registration for a more efficient and modern approach.
   

Documents required for Udyog Aadhaar new registration

The following documents were required for Udyog Aadhaar registration under the legacy UAM process. For the current Udyam Registration process, Aadhaar and PAN are used for verification, with no document upload required.

Note: For Udyam Registration, the current process requires only Aadhaar and PAN, with no document upload needed. The Udyog Aadhaar online registration process is no longer used for new registrations.
 

Benefits of Udyog Aadhaar registration

There are a few benefits to registering your business for Udyog Aadhaar. They are as follows.

• Access to loans without guarantee and at subsidised rates.
• Access to financial support for participating in foreign expos.
• Access to exclusive government subsidies.
• Ability to apply for micro-business loans and other related schemes.
• Easier access to government provisions for businesses.

All these benefits are vital to an enterprise as they help you access capital and enjoy government aid. Additionally, you can couple the benefits of Udyog Aadhaar with a lucrative Bajaj Finance Business Loan to see even more significant business improvements. Whether you are looking to improve your infrastructure, upgrade machinery or expand your business, the Bajaj Finance Business Loan is a great option as it offers a sizeable, collateral-free sanction.

You get up to Rs. 80 lakh to fund business expenses at an attractive business loan interest rate and enjoy loan approval in under 48 hours. Further, it is easy to qualify for, and you only require two documents to apply for it. Bajaj Finance also provides you with the Flexi Loan facility, through which you can pay interest-only EMIs all through the tenure and repay the principal at the end. This reduces your monthly instalments, allowing for better cash-flow management and improved overall financial efficiency. Check your pre-approved offer and enjoy the hassle-free application and instant approval on your loan to get started.

Is Udyog Aadhaar still valid in 2026?

No, Udyog Aadhaar is not valid for new registrations in 2026, as the UAM system was discontinued on July 1, 2020. Existing UAM holders were required to migrate to Udyam Registration by June 30, 2022; those who did not migrate need to register afresh on the Udyam portal. The old Udyog Aadhar registration system is therefore no longer used for new MSME applications, although some banks may retain old UAM numbers as references for loans issued before 2020. Most government schemes and lenders now require Udyam Registration for new applications.

Eligible businesses should complete Udyam Registration and can explore a Bajaj Finance Business Loan, subject to applicable eligibility and lending criteria.

What replaced Udyog Aadhaar registration for MSMEs?

Udyam Registration replaced Udyog Aadhaar registration on July 1, 2020, under the Ministry of MSME, providing a permanent digital registration for MSMEs. In the Udyam Registration vs Udyog Aadhaar comparison, Udyam offers integration with Income Tax, GST, and GeM portals, requires no renewal, allows one registration per Aadhaar, and provides a QR-coded certificate.

To migrate Udyog Aadhaar to Udyam, existing UAM holders can follow these steps:

• Visit udyamregistration.gov.in.
• Select “For those already having registration as UAM”.
• Enter your UAM number and Aadhaar-linked mobile number.
• Validate using OTP, complete the required form, and receive the permanent Udyam Certificate with QR code.

Udyam Registration is now the applicable MSME registration route for eligible businesses.

Example

Ravi, a small garment manufacturer in Surat, had registered under UAM before July 2020. He migrated to Udyam Registration using his UAM and Aadhaar details, received his QR-coded certificate, and later explored a Bajaj Finance Business Loan for machinery funding, subject to eligibility.

Udyog Aadhaar vs Udyam Registration: key differences

Udyam replaced Udyog Aadhar registration in July 2020, introducing improvements in integration, verification, and permanence compared with the earlier UAM system.