A Master Service Agreement (MSA) is a contract between two or more parties that sets out the general terms and conditions governing future transactions or services. Instead of drafting separate agreements for every project, the MSA acts as a master document, saving time and ensuring consistency.

In India, MSAs are widely used in IT services, consulting, outsourcing, construction, and other industries where businesses work on multiple projects. It helps parties define commercial terms, intellectual property rights, confidentiality, warranties, and dispute resolution methods upfront. This minimizes confusion and allows future contracts or work orders to be executed smoothly.