TARU PUBLICATIONS
Journal of Statistics and Management Systems cover

Journal of Statistics and Management Systems

(Since 1998)
Open Access ·Peer-reviewed·ISSN (Online): 2169-0014·ISSN (Print): 0972-0510

Indexed in ABDC Australia

Powered by:Powered by

Monthly Journal: Publishes peer-reviewed aticles on theoretical and applied statistics and management systems, expoloring industrial statistics, actuarial and decision sciences.

Issues up to 2022 co-published with and available at:Taylor & Francis Online
submissions@tarupublications.com
Taru Online First Current IssueSpecial IssuesBrowse all Issues
Journal of Statistics and Management Systems
Open Access Research Article

Pandemic : The flip side and the exceptions

*

* Corresponding author · click or hover a name for details

pp. 1497–1517Vol. 28Issue 8November 2025DOI: 10.47974/JSMS-1514XML
Received:
08 Apr 2025
Published Online:
24 Nov 2025
Article type:
Research Article
Language:
EN
Article no.:
JSMS-1514
Pages:
1497–1517

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic had adverse impacts across a broad range of industries except for healthcare and Pharmaceuticals. It has changed the business dynamics globally. Despite all odds, to our surprise, in the course of our primary survey to study the impact of COVID-19 on Indian micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), we came across about four enterprises, one in the engineering sector and the other three in chemical dyes-related industries, that could sail through the tough period with certain managerial, technical, entrepreneurial strategies and structural advantages, without any significant adverse impact on their businesses. This paper presents the resilience of these enterprises during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, as case lets. Based on the analysis provides insights into distinct factors that provided them a shield during the crisis, contrary to many other enterprises that suffered extensively. Key characteristics observed were the development of niche products/services with extensive research, entrepreneurs’ technical prowess, and early adaptation to automation leading to increased operational efficiency, and decreased labour dependency, and meticulous financial management. The paper discusses in detail the key strategies adopted by these survivors.

Keywords

COVID-19ExceptionsMSMEsStrategies

Subject Classifications

L26L25M21O31Q54H12

References

[1] A. S. Gautam, N. Pathak, T. Ahamad, P. Semwal, A. A. Bourai, A. S. Rana, and O. P. Nautiyal, “Pandemic in India: Special reference to COVID-19 and its technological aspect,” J. Stat. Manag. Syst., vol. 24, no. 2, pp. 387–410 (2021). [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1080/09720510.2021.1879469
[2] U. Rathore and S. Khanna, “Impact of COVID-19 on MSMEs: Evidence from a primary firm survey in India,” Econ. Polit. Wkly., vol. 24, pp. 28–38 (Jun. 2021).
[3] D. Rakshit and A. Pual, “Ripple effect of COVID-19 on MSME sector and road ahead,” Int. J. Curr. Res., vol. 12, no. 7, pp. 12350–12355 (Jul. 2020).
[4] S. M. Dev and R. Sengupta, “COVID-19: Impact on the Indian economy,” Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai, Working Paper No. 2020-013 (Apr. 2020).
[5] M. Behera, S. Mishra, N. Mohapatra, and A. R. Behera, “COVID-19 pandemic and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs): Policy response for revival,” SEDME J., vol. 47, no. 3, pp. 212–228 (2021).
[6] D. Indrakumar, “COVID-19 and its impact on micro, small, and medium enterprises in India,” Manpower J., vol. 54, no. 3–4 (Jul.–Dec. 2020).
[7] S. Ghosh, “Examining the COVID-19 relief package for MSMEs,” Econ. Polit. Wkly., vol. 55, no. 22, pp. 10–12 (May 2020).
[8] A. K. Sharma, “Implications of policy initiatives for MSMEs amid economic disruptions caused by COVID-19,” Vikalpa, vol. 47, no. 1, pp. 7–18 (2022).
[9] A. Sharma and S. K. Rai, “Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on MSMEs in India: Lessons for resilient and sustained growth of small firms,” ISID Working Paper No. 243 (Feb. 2022).
[10] M. A. Uddin, S. A. Jilani, and K. Khan, “Indian MSMEs amidst the COVID-19 pandemic: Firm characteristics and access to finance,” Acad. J. Interdiscip. Stud., vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 71–81 (May 2022).
[11] G. D. Sharma, G. Talan, and M. Jain, “Policy response to the economic challenge from COVID-19 in India: A qualitative inquiry,” J. Public Aff., vol. 20, e2206 (2020). [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.2206
[12] K. Ramaswamy, “Impact of COVID-19: Micro, small and medium enterprises in India, pandemic shock of COVID-19 and policy response: A bird’s eye view,” IGIDR, Part 2, pp. 159–171 (2021).
[13] Government of India, “Action on COVID-19 relief for MSME sector,” [Online]. Available: https://msme.gov.in/sites/default/files/ActiononCOVID-19ReliefforMSMESector.pdf
[Accessed: Oct. 22, 2025].
[14] Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, “Udyam Registration Portal,” [Online]. Available: https://udyamregistration.gov.in/Government-India/Ministry-MSME-registration.html
[Accessed: Oct. 22, 2025].
[15] Ministry of Labour and Employment, “Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY),” [Online]. Available: https://labour.gov.in/aatmanirbhar-bharat-rojgar-yojana-abry [Accessed: Oct. 22, 2025].
[16] D. Seth, P. Agarwal, A. Vashisht, D. Bansal, and P. Verma, “A study on the role of millennials in changing workplace dynamics: How millennials can help businesses move ahead in the post COVID-19 world,” J. Inf. Optim. Sci., vol. 44, no. 1, pp. 9–23 (2023). [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.47974/JIOS-1292

Views: 118Downloads: 49Citations: 0