358 Items Reserved for MSMEs in Government Procurement India 2026: Full List

More than ₹93,000 crore was procured from Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) by Central Ministries and CPSEs in FY 2024-25 — yet most small business owners have never heard of the one policy that guarantees them a completely competition-free market. Under the Public Procurement Policy for MSEs Order, 2012 (notified under Section 11 of the MSMED Act), the Government of India has reserved 358 specific product categories for exclusive purchase from MSEs. No large company, no CPSE subsidiary, no multinational can bid for these items. If your business produces any of them, you have a statutory right to supply the government — as long as you hold a valid Udyam Registration Certificate.

Yet most MSE owners don't know this list exists. That is the gap this guide closes.

Source: Ministry of MSME Year-End Review, 2025

If you manufacture or supply any of the 358 items below, browse MSME-eligible government tenders on TenderDekho to find active procurement opportunities for your product category.

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What the 358 Reserved Items Policy Actually Means

The 358-item reservation sits inside a wider procurement mandate. Under the Public Procurement Policy for MSEs Order (effective April 2019), every Central Ministry, Department, and Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSE) must source at least 25% of its annual procurement value from MSEs. Within this 25% target:

• 4% is sub-reserved for MSEs owned by Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) entrepreneurs
• 3% is sub-reserved for MSEs owned by women entrepreneurs
• The 358 reserved items stand separately — these are items where 100% of procurement must come from MSEs, regardless of the 25% overall target

This means if a government department needs safety matches, PVC pipes, steel almirahs, or woollen carpets, they cannot call for open tenders. They must source exclusively from registered MSEs. The reserved items list covers goods — no large firm, however competitive its pricing, is eligible to bid.

Source: msme.gov.in, Public Procurement Policy for MSEs Order 2018

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The Complete List of 358 Items Reserved for MSMEs

The official list is published by the Development Commissioner (MSME) under the Ministry of MSME. Below is the complete catalogue, reproduced from the DCMSME official document, organised into thematic sections for easier scanning.

Electrical & Electronic Items (Items 1–17 and scattered)

Government offices and CPSEs procure enormous volumes of standard electrical goods. This segment of the reserved list covers commodity-grade items where MSE manufacturers have a clear production advantage.

• AAC/ACSR Conductor up to 19 strands
• Air/Room Coolers
• Ammeters, Ohm meters, Volt meters (electromagnetic, up to Class I accuracy)
• Battery Charger
• Battery Eliminator
• Ceiling roses up to 15 amps
• Centrifugal steel plate blowers
• Chokes for light fittings
• Community Radio Receivers
• Conduit pipes
• Distribution Board up to 15 amps
• Domestic Electric Appliances as per BIS Specifications: Toasters, Electric Irons, Hot Plates, Electric Mixers, Grinders, Room Heaters, Convectors, Ovens
• Domestic (House Wiring) PVC Cables and Wires (Aluminium), conforming to BIS specifications up to 10.00 mm sq. nominal cross section
• Electric Call Bells, Buzzers, Door Bells
• Electric Soldering Iron
• Electric Transmission Line Hardware — steel cross bars, cross arms, clamps, arcing horns, brackets
• Electronic Door Bell
• Emergency Light (rechargeable type)
• Exhaust Muffler
• Fuse Cut-outs
• Fuse Units
• Invertor (domestic type up to 5 kVA)
• Lamp Holders
• Lamp Signal
• Lantern Posts and Bodies
• Lighting Arresters up to 22 kV
• LT Porcelain KITKAT and Fuse Grips
• Metal Clad Switches up to 30 amps
• Miniature Bulbs (for torches only)
• Plugs and Sockets (electric, up to 15 amp)
• PVC Insulated Aluminium Cables up to 120 sq. mm (ISS: 694)
• Railway Carriage Light Fittings
• Roof Light Fittings
• Squirrel Cage Induction Motors up to and including 100 KW, 440 volts, 3 phase
• Street Light Fittings
• Toggle Switches
• Transformer type Welding Sets conforming to IS:1291/75 (up to 600 amps)
• Transistorised Insulation Testers
• Voltage Stabilisers including CVTs

Steel and Metal Products

Standard-grade metal goods and furniture represent one of the largest demand clusters within the reserved list. Government offices, hospitals, railways, and defence establishments procure these in bulk.

• Aluminium Builder's Hardware
• Barbed Wire
• Beam Scales (up to 1.5 tons)
• Bench Vices
• Bolts and Nuts
• Bolts Sliding
• Brass Wire
• Brackets other than those used in Railways
• Buckets (all types)
• Cans Metallic (for milk and measuring)
• Chains (lashing)
• Circlips
• Claw Bars and Wires
• Copper Nail
• Drum and Barrels
• Dust Bins
• Expanded Metal
• Eyelets
• Grease Nipples and Grease Guns
• Gun Metal Bushes
• Hand Pump
• Hand Tools (all types)
• Hasps and Staples
• Hinges
• Hob Nails
• Horse and Mule Shoes
• Hydraulic Jacks below 30-ton capacity
• Link Clip
• Lockers
• Lubricators
• Machine Screws
• Manhole Covers
• Measuring Tapes and Sticks
• Metal Polish
• Metallic Containers and Drums (not elsewhere classified)
• Metric Weights
• MS Tie Bars
• Nail Cutters
• Pad Locks (all types)
• Pressure Die Casting up to 0.75 kg
• Pulley Wire
• Rakes (ballast)
• Razors
• Rivets (all types)
• Rolling Shutters
• Safety Pins and similar products (paper pins, staple pins)
• Scissors (ordinary cutting)
• Screws (all types including High Tensile)
• Shovels
• Sign Boards (painted)
• Sluice Valves
• Snapfasteners (excluding 4-piece ones)
• Socket/Pipes
• Steel Almirahs
• Steel Beds/Bedsteads
• Steel Chairs
• Steel Desks
• Steel Racks and Shelves
• Steel Stools
• Steel Trunks
• Steel Wool
• Steel and Aluminium Windows and Ventilators
• Stone and Stone Quarry Rollers
• Stranded Wire
• Studs (excluding high tensile)
• Table Knives (excluding cutlery)
• Tack (metallic)
• Taps
• Trolley
• Trollies — drinking water
• Tubular Poles
• Valves (metallic)
• Washers (all types)
• Weighing Scales
• Welded Wire Mesh
• Wheel Barrows
• Wire Brushes and Fibre Brushes
• Wire Fencing and Fittings
• Wire Nails and Horse Shoe Nails
• Wire Nettings of gauze thicker than 100 mesh size

Textile, Clothing, and Footwear

Defence establishments, police forces, railways, and government offices generate sustained demand for uniforms, footwear, and fabric goods — almost all of which fall under reserved categories.

• Anklets Web Khaki
• Badges (cloth embroidered and metal)
• Bags of all types — leather, cotton, canvas, jute, kit bags, mail bags, sleeping bags, waterproof bags
• Belt Leather and Straps
• Boots and Shoes (all types, including canvas shoes)
• Braces
• Brief Cases (other than moulded luggage)
• Button (all types)
• Canvas Products: Waterproof Delivery Bags (IS-1422/70), Bonnet Covers and Radiator Muffs
• Capes (cotton and woollen)
• Capes (waterproof)
• Chamois Leather
• Chappals and Sandals
• Chrome Tanned Leather (semi-finished buffalo and cow)
• Cloth Covers
• Cloth Jaconet
• Cloth Sponge
• Cotton Absorbent
• Cotton Belts
• Cotton Carriers
• Cotton Cases
• Cotton Cord Twine
• Cotton Hosiery
• Cotton Packs
• Cotton Pouches
• Cotton Ropes
• Cotton Singlets
• Cotton Sling
• Cotton Straps
• Cotton Tapes and Laces
• Cotton Wool (non-absorbent)
• Cumblies and Blankets
• Curtains (mosquito)
• Dust Shield (leather)
• Dusters Cotton (all types, excluding Khadi)
• Garments (excluding supply from Indian Ordnance Factories)
• Gun Cases
• Hand Gloves (all types)
• Harness Leather
• Haver Sacks
• Helmet (non-metallic)
• Hide and Country Leather (all types)
• Lace (leather)
• Lanyard
• Lathies
• Newar
• Nylon Stocking
• Nylon Tapes and Laces
• Piles Fabric
• Pillows
• PVC Footwear
• Quilts and Razais
• Rags
• Rubberised Garments, Caps
• Sanitary Towels
• Sheep Skin (all types)
• Shoe Laces
• Silk Ribbon
• Silk Webbing
• Skiboots and Shoes
• Sole Leather
• Spectacle Frames
• Spiked Boots
• Sports Shoes made of leather (all sports)
• Stockinet
• Tarpaulins
• Tip Boots
• Tyres and Tubes (cycles)
• Umbrellas
• Woollen Hosiery

Chemicals, Paints, and Cleaning Products

Centrally procured chemicals, disinfectants, and industrial fluids represent a steady demand stream across government hospitals, railways, and public facilities.

• Bituminous Paints
• Bone Meal
• Boot Polish
• Castor Oil
• Cleaning Powder
• Copper Napthenate
• Copper Sulphate
• Dibutyl Phthalate
• Dimethyl Phthalate
• Disinfectant Fluids
• Dyes: Azo Dyes (Direct and Acid), Basic Dyes
• Film (Polythene, including wide width)
• Foot Powder
• French Polish
• Glue
• Gumtape
• Insecticides Dust and Sprayers (manual only)
• Latex Foam Sponge
• Linseed Oil
• Magnesium Sulphate
• Metal Polish
• Naphthalene Balls
• Nickel Sulphate
• Oil Bound Distemper
• Paint Remover
• Palma Rosa Oil
• Palmgur
• Potassium Nitrate
• Rust/Scale Removing Composition
• Safety Matches
• Shellac
• Soap (Carbolic, Curd, Liquid, Soft, Washing/Laundry, Yellow)
• Sodium Nitrate
• Sodium Silicate
• Varnish Black Japan
• Wax Sealing
• Waxed Paper
• Zinc Sulphate

Rubber, Plastic, and Piping Products

Plastic containers, PVC pipes, rubber goods, and coir products form a large cluster of reserved items used across government infrastructure projects.

• Coir Fibre and Coir Yarn
• Coir Mattress, Cushions, and Matting
• Coir Rope (Hawser-laid)
• Cord Twine
• Cordage (others)
• Film Spools and Cans
• Plastic Blow Moulded Containers up to 20 litres (excluding PET)
• Plastic Cane
• Polythene Bags
• Polythene Pipes
• PVC Pipes up to 110 mm
• RCC Pipes up to 1,200 mm diameter
• RCC Poles (Prestressed)
• Rubber Balloons
• Rubber Cord
• Rubber Hoses (unbranded)
• Rubber Tubing (excluding braided)
• Water Proof Covers
• Water Proof Paper
• Water Tanks up to 15,000 litres capacity

Medical and Scientific Equipment

A focused cluster of basic medical and laboratory supplies is reserved — this is significant for MSEs in the healthcare manufacturing segment.

• Ambulance Stretcher
• Bandage Cloth
• Clinical Thermometers
• Cotton Absorbent (also listed under textiles)
• Gauze Cloth
• Gauze Surgical (all types)
• Glass Ampules
• Glass and Pressed Wares
• Invalid Wheeled Chairs
• Lint Plain
• Microscope (for normal medical use)
• Plaster of Paris
• Scientific Laboratory Glassware (excluding sophisticated items)
• Student Microscope
• Surgical Gloves (except plastic)

Wood, Paper, and Office Supplies

Government stationery and basic office furniture requirements generate consistent and repeat demand — ideal for small manufacturers with local supply chains.

• Bamboo File Tray, Baskets, Pencil Stand, Side Racks
• Blotting Paper
• Boxes (made of metal)
• Boxes (leather)
• Cane Valves/Stock Valves (for water fittings only)
• Corrugated Paperboard and Boxes
• Crates (wooden and plastic)
• Drawing and Mathematical Instruments
• Film Spools and Cans
• Gas Mantels
• Hand Drawn Carts (all types)
• Hand Lamps (railways)
• Hand Numbering Machine
• Hand Presses
• Holdall
• Key Board (wooden)
• Kit Boxes
• Letter Boxes
• Mallet (wooden)
• Paper Conversion Products: Paper Bags, Envelopes, Ice-Cream Cups, Paper Cups and Saucers, Paper Plates
• Paper Tapes (gummed)
• Postal Lead Seals
• Post Picket (wooden)
• Privy Pans
• Safe Meat and Milk
• Sanitary Plumbing Fittings
• Stapling Machine
• Tin Boxes for Postage Stamps
• Tin Can (unprinted, up to 4 gallons capacity, other than OTS)
• Tin Mess
• Toilet Rolls
• Trays
• Trays for Postal Use
• Wooden Ammunition Boxes
• Wooden Boards
• Wooden Box for Stamps
• Wooden Boxes and Cases (not elsewhere classified)
• Wooden Chairs
• Wooden Flush Door Shutters
• Wooden Packing Cases (all sizes)
• Wooden Pins
• Wooden Plugs
• Wooden Shelves
• Wooden Veneers
• Wood Wool

Food and Agricultural Items

A small but important cluster of food and agricultural products is included — particularly relevant for MSEs in rural and semi-urban areas.

• Chaff Cutter Blade
• Hand Pounded Rice (polished and unpolished)
• Honey
• Pappads
• Pickles and Chutney

Agricultural, Civil, and Other Implements

• Agricultural Implements: Hand Operated Tools and Implements, Animal Driven Implements
• Augur (Carpenters)
• Automobile Headlights Assembly
• Basket Cane (also from State Forest Corp. or State Handicrafts Corp.)
• Bath Tubs
• Centrifugal Pumps (suction and delivery, 150 mm x 150 mm)
• Diesel Engines up to 15 HP
• Enamel Wares and Enamel Utensils
• Equipment Camouflage (bamboo support)
• Fire Extinguishers (wall type)
• Funnels
• Ghamellas (Tasllas)
• Gun Cases
• Hand Drawn Carts (all types)
• Handles (wooden and bamboo; also from State Forest Corp. or Handicrafts Corp.)
• Kodali
• M.S. Tie Bars
• Oil Stoves (wick stoves only)
• Pans Lavatory Flush
• Playing Cards
• Pouches
• Stoneware Jars
• Tent Poles
• Tentage (Civil/Military) and Salitah Jute for Tentage
• Textiles Manufacturers (not elsewhere classified)
• Tiles
• Trays
• Whistles
• Wicks Cotton
• Windshield Wipers (arms and blades only)
• Zip Fasteners

Handicraft Items (Items 351–358)

The final eight items in the official list are designated specifically as handicraft products.

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How to Actually Use This List to Win Reserved Tenders

Knowing the list is step one. Getting orders against it requires a working procurement strategy.

Step 1 — Get Your Udyam Registration

You must hold a valid Udyam Registration Certificate from the official portal at udyamregistration.gov.in. Registration is free, fully online, requires only Aadhaar OTP and PAN/GST verification, and takes less than 30 minutes. Without this certificate, you cannot claim reserved-item status in any tender.

Step 2 — Match Your Products to the List

Compare your product catalogue against the 358 items systematically. Pay attention to technical qualifiers — for example, PVC Pipes are reserved only "up to 110 mm". Diesel Engines are reserved only "up to 15 HP". If your product falls outside those specs, it is not covered under the reserved list for that item.

Step 3 — Identify Active Tenders for Your Product Category

Government departments upload their annual procurement plans on their websites. You can also find live government tenders filtered by category on TenderDekho — tenders are aggregated from Central Ministries, CPSEs, and state departments daily. Filter by product type to see current reserved-item procurement notices.

Step 4 — Verify the GeM Catalogue

Many reserved items are procured through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM). List your products on GeM under the relevant categories and enable the MSME/Udyam badge. Buyers can identify registered MSE sellers on GeM and prefer them for reserved-item procurement. For GeM seller registration and bid participation support, explore the options available to set up your GeM account correctly.

Step 5 — Claim the Additional Benefits on Competitive Tenders

For items not on the reserved list, registered MSEs still receive:

• EMD (Earnest Money Deposit) exemption — saving thousands to lakhs per bid
• Tender fee waiver — no cost to download tender documents
• L1+15% price preference — if you quote within 15% of the lowest bid and that bid is from a non-MSE, you can supply up to 25% of the tendered value by matching the L1 price

Source: msme.gov.in, Public Procurement Policy for MSEs Order 2018

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The Compliance Gap — What MSE Suppliers Should Know

The reserved-item policy has faced enforcement challenges since its inception. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), in its Report No. 18 of 2018, documented that multiple CPSEs — including GAIL, BHEL, and NTPC — had procured reserved items from non-MSE vendors. The primary reasons were technical: CPSEs had not mapped ITC-HS (Indian Trade Classification Harmonised System) codes to the reserved item list in their ERP systems, and classification ambiguity allowed procurement officers to exclude items from the reserved category.

As an MSE supplier, this means two things:

• You have legal recourse. If a department calls an open tender for a reserved item without restricting it to MSEs, you can raise a complaint through the CHAMPION Portal on the Ministry of MSME website. This is the official grievance cell for non-compliance with the Public Procurement Policy.
• The list is due for revision. The Ministry of MSME published a revised draft list of 469 items for stakeholder consultation on MyGov.in, proposing to add new product categories (including services) while removing obsolete items like blotting paper and tin boxes for postage stamps. This revision has not yet been formally notified as of early 2026.

Browse live tenders for reserved and MSME-preference categories to stay updated on current procurement notices across Central Ministries and CPSEs.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the 358 reserved items and the 25% procurement target?

The 25% target applies to the total annual procurement value across all goods and services. CPSEs must ensure 25% of what they buy, by value, comes from MSEs. The 358 reserved items are a separate, parallel mandate — those specific items can only be procured from MSEs regardless of the 25% calculation. Both obligations apply simultaneously.

Which government buyers are covered by this policy?

All Central Ministries, Departments, and Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSEs) are covered. State governments are not directly bound by this Central policy, though according to MSME sector reports (2025 data), more than 20 states have issued their own procurement policies with similar or complementary MSME preferences.

Does the 358-item reservation apply on GeM as well?

Yes. GeM procurement is subject to the Public Procurement Policy for MSEs Order. For listed reserved items on GeM, buyer departments are required to restrict the purchase to MSE-registered sellers. Your Udyam Registration certificate, linked to your GeM profile, serves as the qualifying credential. Explore GeM services and MSME bid participation to understand how to position your product on GeM for reserved-item purchases.

What if the required quantity is too large for a single MSE to supply?

If a procuring entity cannot source the full quantity from a single MSE, the order can be split across multiple MSE suppliers. The policy does not require a minimum order size, and MSEs cannot be excluded solely on the grounds of insufficient individual production capacity.

Is there an MSME benefit in government tenders even for items not on the 358 list?

Absolutely. Registered MSEs get EMD exemption, tender fee waiver, and the L1+15% price preference on all competitive tenders — not just the 358 reserved items. These benefits apply across the entire government procurement ecosystem, including state tenders, GeM, and CPPP. To track opportunities across both reserved and open categories, discover MSME-friendly government tenders updated daily.

Can medium enterprises (not just micro and small) claim these benefits?

No. The Public Procurement Policy for MSEs Order specifically covers Micro and Small Enterprises. Medium enterprises are not covered by the reserved-item mandate or the EMD exemption provision. If your enterprise has been reclassified as medium (following the revised MSME thresholds effective April 2025), verify your current category on the Udyam portal before submitting tenders under these provisions.

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Your 30-Day Action Plan to Start Winning Reserved-Item Tenders

If your business manufactures or supplies any product from the 358-item list, this four-week plan helps you move from awareness to active bidding.

The government procurement market is not just accessible for MSEs — in 358 product categories, it is reserved for you. The ₹93,017 crore procured from MSEs in FY 2024-25 represents 43.58% of total CPSE procurement value (according to Ministry of MSME data, 2025), far exceeding the mandatory 25% threshold. The opportunity is real, the policy is enforceable, and the path in begins with a single Udyam Registration.

To find active reserved-item tenders from Central Ministries, CPSEs, and state departments in one place, start your MSME tender search on TenderDekho and set product-specific alerts so you never miss a procurement notice for your category.