It is the apex executive body for the formulation and administration of rules, regulations and laws relating to micro, small and medium enterprises in India.

These autonomous bodies include Tool Rooms, Training Institutions and Project-cum-Process Development Centres.

The now-defunct Ministry of Agro and Rural Industries had the objectives of facilitating coordinated and focused policy formulation and effective implementation of programmes, projects, schemes, etc., for improving supply chain management, enhancing skills, upgrading technology, expanding markets and capacity building of entrepreneurs/artisans and their groups/collectives.

It coordinates implementation of two countrywide employment generation programmes, namely, the Rural Employment Generation Programme (REGP) and the Prime Minister's Rozgar Yojana (PMRY) with the cooperation of State Governments, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and other banks.

[2] It was headed by the Minister of Agro & Rural Industries and was based at Udyog Bhavan, Rafi Marg, New Delhi.

Integrated Training Centre, Nilokheri was an employment and training agency in Nilokheri in Karnal district in the state of Haryana owned and managed by the Government of India and responsible for upgrading technical skills of technicians.

The IEDS cadre was approved to be created in 2016 through the merger of 11 existing trades of the Ministry of MSME.

[5] The Ministry regulates: It was launched as a central sector scheme in 2008–09 to promote self employment in the country through setting up micro enterprises.