What is the scope of small …

Defining small scale industry is a difficult task because the definition of small scale industry varies from country to country and from one time to the another in the same country depending upon the pattern and stage of development, government policy and administrative set up of the particular country. Every country has set its own parameters in defining small scale sector. Generally, small scale sector is defined in terms of investment ceilings on the original value of the installed plant and machinery. But in the earlier times the definition was based on employment. In the Indian context, the parameter are as follows. The Fiscal Commission, Government of India, New Delhi, 1950, for the first time defined a small-scale industry as, one which is operated mainly with hired labour usually 10 to 50 hands. Fixed capital investment in a unit has also been adopted as the other criteria to make a distinction between small scale and large-scale industries. This limit is being continuously raised upwards by Government.