• sanath kumar N
• Dr.N.Nagaraja

The credit rating mechanism is crucial for SMEs in Karnataka as it enables them to access affordable financing, enhance credibility with lenders, and facilitate business growth and expansion. By providing an objective assessment of creditworthiness, it empowers SMEs to make informed financial decisions and navigate the competitive business landscape effectively. Overall, the implementation of credit rating mechanisms strengthens the financial ecosystem, fostering the sustainable development of SMEs in Karnataka. This study adopts a cross-sectional research design to assess the awareness level of SMEs in Karnataka regarding the credit rating mechanism. Both primary and secondary data sources will be utilized to achieve the research objectives. Secondary data will be collected from the UDYAM registration portal to gather information on the definition and registration of SMEs in Karnataka. This data will provide a comprehensive understanding of the SME landscape in the region. Primary data will be collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 152 respondents from Bengaluru Urban. The questionnaire will be designed to assess the awareness level of SMEs regarding the credit rating system. The study will utilize convenience sampling to select SMEs located in Bengaluru Urban. This sampling method is chosen for its practicality and accessibility in obtaining the required sample size. Descriptive statistics will be employed to summarize the characteristics of the sample, including demographics and awareness levels. The awareness levels of SMEs across different geographical regions and nature of business categories will be analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine if there are significant differences.

SMEs, Credit Rating, Awareness

"EVALUATION OF AWARENESS LEVEL OF CREDIT RATING MECHANISM OF SMEs IN KARNATAKA", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 4, page no.h120-h130, April-2024, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2404715.pdf

"EVALUATION OF AWARENESS LEVEL OF CREDIT RATING MECHANISM OF SMEs IN KARNATAKA", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 4, page no. pph120-h130, April-2024, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2404715.pdf