Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) form the backbone of India’s economy. They play a vital role in providing jobs, supporting livelihoods, and boosting industrial growth at the grassroots level. This paper studies the structure and distribution of MSMEs across the top ten Indian states using official data. It compares two important datasets. These are the NSS 73rd Round conducted in 2015–16 and the Fourth All India Census of MSMEs along with the Fifth Economic Census. The values have been taken from the Annual Report 2022–23 published by the Ministry of MSME. The study uses a simple descriptive method to compare the number and percentage share of MSMEs in each state. A clear shift is observed between the two datasets. Some states like Andhra Pradesh show improvement in share, while others like Bihar and West Bengal show decline. The findings show how different states perform across time depending on local policies, registration drives, and credit access. The paper also explains how MSME share relates to employment generation. The results highlight regional gaps and call for stronger policy attention in weaker states. The analysis is based only on government data and gives a clear picture of where MSMEs are growing and where they need support.