BIKANER, Aug. 14 -- Rajasthan recorded more than 200, 000 fewer fresh MSME registrations in 2025-26, compared to the previous year, even as micro and small enterprises in the state had nearly Rs.1,563 crore tied up in pending delayed-payment applications, highlighting a twin challenge for the state's small-business ecosystem - a slowdown in the entry of new enterprises and working capital remaining locked up for businesses already operating. The developments assume significance after Parliament passed the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026, seeking to facilitate MSME growth and strengthen mechanisms for faster recovery of delayed payments. According to ministry of MSME data from the Udyam Registration Portal, fresh registrations in Rajasthan fell from 12,46,652 in 2024-25 to 10,45,305 in 2025-26, a decline of 2,01,347 or 16.15%. The state had recorded 1.129 million fresh registrations in 2023-24, according to the ministry data, making the latest fall the second consecutive annual decline after registrations peaked in 2024-25. The decline in fresh registrations has, however, coincided with an increase in employment reported by enterprises already registered on the formal platforms. Udyam Registration Portal and Udyam Assist Platform data show employment rising from 3.542 million in 2023-24 to 4.453 million in 2024-25 and 5.221 million in 2025-26. Thus, fewer new enterprises entered the formal system in the latest year even as existing registered enterprises reported substantial employment expansion. The other major pressure point is delayed payment. According to the Ministry of MSME's MSME Samadhaan portal, Rajasthan had 9,896 pending delayed-payment applications involving Rs.1,562.88 crore as on August 11. The portal recorded 15,903 applications filed in the state involving claims of Rs.2,857.83 crore. The pending claims are heavily concentrated in a few districts. Jaipur accounted for 4,745, or 48% of Rajasthan's 9,896 pending applications, while the Rs.798.33 crore involved in the district accounted for 51.1% of the state's total pending amount of Rs. 1,562.88 crore, according to the Samadhaan portal. Alwar had 961 pending cases involving Rs. 175.91 crore, Udaipur 879 cases involving Rs.119.81 crore and Jodhpur 666 cases involving Rs.145.92 crore. At the state level, the delayed-payment problem is also reflected in the workload of Rajasthan's Micro and Small Enterprise Facilitation Councils. According to the Rajasthan Industries Department, more than 3,900 delayed-payment disputes involving MSMEs were pending before the state's 14 Micro and Small Enterprise Facilitation Councils as of August 2026. Rajasthan has expanded the number of councils from one to 14 over the years to deal with the growing caseload. More than 60% of the pending disputes involve government departments, according to the Industries Department data....