"Sustainable Accounting Practices and Financial Resilience of MSMEs: An Empirical Study of MSMEs in Kolhapur District, Maharashtra"

Abstract: Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, also called MSMEs, play a vital role in creating jobs, boosting local economies, encouraging entrepreneurship and generating income. Yet MSMEs face hurdles. The environment is full of pressure from nature, changing expectations from stakeholders, new rules, limited resources and financial uncertainty. In such a setting, sustainable accounting practices give MSMEs information about environmental costs, how much resources they consume, the money spent on sustainability and their performance in environmental, social and governance areas, known as ESG. This data helps MSMEs make decisions, control costs, use resources more efficiently and manage risks. All of this strengthens resilience. This study investigates the link between accounting practices and financial resilience in MSMEs located in Kolhapur District, Maharashtra. The study blends ideas from Stakeholder Theory, the Resource‑Based View and the Natural Resource‑Based View to show how sustainable accounting practices build capabilities inside MSMEs and boost resilience. Sustainable accounting information, green and environmental accounting and ESG and sustainability reporting are seen as the parts of sustainable accounting practices. Financial resilience is measured by how MSMEs can handle rising costs, changes in revenue, sudden financial pressure, risk and resource needs. This study uses a descriptive and analytical research design. We will gather data from about 100 MSME owners, entrepreneurs, managers, accountants and finance staff using a structured five‑point Likert‑scale questionnaire. We will analyse the data with statistics Cronbach’s alpha, Pearson correlation and multiple regression to test the proposed links. This study aims to add to the growing literature on accounting by moving focus from usual financial performance measures to financial resilience and by giving regional evidence from MSMEs in Kolhapur District.