The purpose of this research is to provide a comprehensive qualitative review of empirical research studies as well as to propose a conceptual research framework on the factors influencing micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) performance in the context of the Indian economy. The article is based on a systematic review of the scientific literature on entrepreneurial orientation (EO), market orientation (MO) and the firm performance. A comprehensive electronic search of the literature was conducted on the Scopus database, and the top 50 cited articles on EO-performance and MO-performance in the context of firms/MSMEs were identified. The findings show that firms with higher internal capabilities in the form of EO and MO have a better chance of gaining competitive advantage. The proposed framework may provide insight into the factors influencing MSMEs performance in an unstable environment. The study depicts the factors that either facilitate or limit the potential for entrepreneurship in India. This study also makes an important contribution to the field of entrepreneurship and small business in India.