<\/p>\n
By Shri Piyush Goyal<\/em><\/p>\n The Startup India initiative has evolved into an inclusive and innovative ecosystem across the Inclusion has been a cornerstone of this journey. Women-led entrepreneurship has emerged Reforms, Market Access\u00a0– Improving the ease of doing business has been central to Access to markets has been prioritised. Through the Government e-Marketplace, over 35,700 Cultural Change \u2013 Indian startups heralded a significant cultural change in the country,
\ncountry, channelising youthful entrepreneurial energy to create jobs and accelerate economic
\ngrowth, paving the way for achieving Hon\u2019ble Prime Minister Narendra Shri Narendra
\nModi\u2019s\u00a0Viksit Bharat 2047\u00a0mission.
\nIndia now has one of the world\u2019s largest startup ecosystems. Today, entrepreneurship has
\nbecome a nationwide movement that is reshaping India\u2019s economic landscape and becoming
\na new engine of growth and job creation.
\nThis transformation did not happen overnight. When the PM announced Startup India from
\nthe ramparts of the Red Fort on the Independence Day in 2015, he articulated a clear and
\nambitious vision that entrepreneurship must take root in every district and every block of the
\ncountry.
\nStartup India has come a long way since it was launched by the Department for Promotion of
\nIndustry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) on January 16 th , 2016.\u00a0 Startups are energising some of
\nthe most critical sectors of the economy. IT services, healthcare and life sciences, education,
\nagriculture, and construction account for the highest concentration of startups.
\nNew ventures have emerged across more than 50 other industries including climate tech and
\ninfrastructure. This breadth reflects innovation and resilience across diverse segments,
\nparticularly the sectors that are critical in national development priorities.
\nInnovation & AI- A defining shift over the past decade has been the growing focus on
\ninnovation and deep technology. India\u2019s rank in the Global Innovation Index has improved
\nfrom 81 th \u00a0in 2015 to 38 th \u00a0last year, and the government\u2019s support for deep tech ventures will
\nimprove it further. The number of AI startups is rising rapidly, building on the PM\u2019s Digital
\nIndia initiative.
\nThe PM\u2019s vision for building a deep-tech nation has led to the establishment of the
\nAnusandhan National Research Foundation, and the launch of the India AI Mission and
\nthe\u00a0Research Development and Innovation Scheme. India\u2019s startups are also innovating
\nacross areas like aeronautics, aerospace and defence, robotics, green technology, Internet of
\nThings and semiconductors, amongst others.
\nThe sharp rise in intellectual property creation reinforces this trend. Indian startups have filed
\nmore than 16,400 new patent applications, reflecting a stronger focus on original innovation,
\nlong-term value creation, and global competitiveness.
\nPan-India Growth\u00a0– Equally significant is the pan-India support of entrepreneurship. From
\njust four states with startup policies in 2016, India today has more than 30 States and Union
\nTerritories with dedicated startup frameworks. There are now DPIIT-recognised startups in
\nevery state and UT, underscoring the depth of institutional support and grassroots
\nparticipation. More than 2,00,000 startups have been recognised so far, representing a decade
\nof sustained, policy-led ecosystem development. In 2025 alone, more than 49,400 startups
\nwere recognised, the highest annual growth since Startup India began.<\/p>\n
\nas a major strength, with more than 45 percent of recognised startups having at least one-
\nwoman director. Further, about half the startups are based in non-metro cities, highlighting
\nthe growing role of Tier II and Tier III cities as engines of innovation and employment.
\nLocal to Global\u00a0– As Indian startups scale, the world is increasingly their marketplace. To
\nsupport global ambitions, Startup India has built strong international partnerships. Twenty-
\none international bridges and two strategic alliances now facilitate market access,
\ncollaboration, and expansion across key economies, including the UK, Japan, South Korea,
\nSweden and Israel.\u00a0 More than 850 startups have already benefitted from these initiatives.
\nIn my recent visits to Sweden, Switzerland, New Zealand, and Israel, startups were an
\nintegral part of India\u2019s business delegations. These engagements provided a platform to
\nshowcase Indian innovation globally, while exposing our entrepreneurs to innovation and
\nbusiness practices in developed economies.<\/p>\n
\nenabling this growth. Eligible startups can avail of a tax holiday for three consecutive years
\nwithin their first decade. More than 4,100 startups have already received eligibility
\ncertificates. Over sixty regulatory reforms have reduced compliance burdens, facilitated
\ncapital raising, and strengthened domestic institutional investment. The abolition of angel tax
\nand the opening up of long-term capital pools to Alternate Investment Funds have further
\nstrengthened the startup funding ecosystem.<\/p>\n
\nstartups have been onboarded, securing more than five lakh orders worth over \u20b951,200 crore.
\nThese efforts are complemented by strong financial support. Over \u20b925,500 crore has been
\ninvested by Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) under the Fund of Funds for Startups
\nscheme, benefiting more than 1,300 enterprises. Additionally, collateral-free loans worth over
\n\u20b9800 crore have been guaranteed under the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups.
\nStartup India Seed Fund Scheme with an outlay of Rs 945 crores provides financial assistance
\nto startups for Proof of Concept, prototype development, product trials, market-entry and
\ncommercialization.<\/p>\n
\nwhere children were encouraged to aim for jobs in a few sectors such as government service,
\nengineering or medicine. Today, many young Indians aspire to be job creators, not job
\nseekers, and their families respect and encourage entrepreneurial ambitions.
\nIndia\u2019s startup journey is ultimately a story of confidence in our young entrepreneurs, in
\npolicy-led growth, and in India\u2019s capacity to innovate for the world. As we move confidently
\ntowards our mission to become a developed country by 2047, startups will remain central to
\nbuilding a prosperous, inclusive, and globally competitive India.
\n(The author is the Union Minister for Commerce and Industry)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"