Ravi, who runs a micro manufacturing unit, supplied goods to a buyer who accepted the delivery on 1st March. The buyer has not made payment even after 18 days. Ravi wants to understand whether this delay is covered under

As per Section 2(b) of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act, 2006, the term appointed day is defined as to mean the day following immediately after the expiry of the period of fifteen days from the day of acceptance or the day of deemed acceptance of any goods or any services by a buyer from a supplier. Once this 15-day period ends, any unpaid amount becomes legally classified as a delayed payment. In Ravi's case, the buyer accepted the goods on 1st March, so the 15-day period ends on 16th March. This makes 17th March the appointed day . Since the buyer has not paid even after 18 days, the payment is overdue beyond the appointed day. As a micro enterprise, Ravi qualifies as a supplier under the Act, and the delay entitles him to the statutory protections available for delayed payments, including the right to claim interest as per the Act.