Startup India @10:
Transforming India into a Global Startup Powerhouse
Ø
From 400 Startups to Over Two Lakh in a Decade:
Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal Highlights Startup India’s
Impact
Ø
Government Prioritises Deep Tech as Startups
Expand Across 50 plus Sectors; Fund of Funds Strengthens India’s Growing Startup
Ecosystem
Ø
₹1 Lakh Crore R&D Fund to Propel
Deep Tech Research to Global Standards: Mr. Piyush Goyal
Ø
Startup Revolution Spreads Across India,
Driven by Tier-II and Tier-III Cities
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Startup Collaboration Gains Prominence in
Free Trade Agreement Negotiations as Global Interest in India Grows
Ø
DPIIT Announces Results of the fifth National
Startup Awards and States’ Startup Ranking
·
Startup
India as a National Movement:
o Prime Minister Narendra Modi described
Startup India’s ten-year journey as a revolution
driven by youth, dreams, and innovation, evolving beyond a
government scheme into a defining movement of New India.
o Addressed startup founders and young
entrepreneurs at Bharat
Mandapam, New Delhi, on National
Startup Day (16 January 2026).
·
Rapid
Growth of the Startup Ecosystem:
o India emerged as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem
in just a decade.
o Startups increased from fewer than 500 in 2014 to over 2 lakh today.
o Number of unicorns rose from 4 to nearly 125.
o Indian startups are increasingly launching IPOs, creating jobs, and
attracting global investors.
·
Record
Momentum in 2025:
o Nearly 44,000 startups registered in 2025 alone,
the highest in any single year.
o Reflects accelerating confidence and
maturity of the ecosystem.
·
Youth-Led
Innovation Across Sectors:
o Startups active in agriculture, fintech,
mobility, health, sustainability, and emerging technologies.
o PM praised young entrepreneurs for solving
real-world problems and stated many would become future case studies of success.
·
From
Job Seekers to Job Creators:
o Union Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted
the shift envisioned in 2016—from job seekers to job generators.
o Over 2 lakh DPIIT-recognised startups have
generated an estimated 21
lakh jobs.
·
Nationwide
Startup Spread:
o Nearly 50% of startups originate from Tier-II and Tier-III cities,
making it a truly pan-India movement.
o Strong regional examples:
§ North-East: Startups in Sikkim and Assam modernising
agriculture.
§ Andhra Pradesh: Emerging as India’s drone capital.
§ Karnataka & Tamil Nadu: Hubs for deep tech and AI.
·
Presence
in High-Impact and Future Sectors:
o Startups active across 50+ sectors, including:
§ Deep Tech, AI, ML, Quantum Computing
§ Agri-Tech, Space Tech, Drone &
Aerospace Technology
§ Rocket Technology and advanced
manufacturing
·
Government
Funding and Policy Support:
o ₹10,000 crore Fund of Funds launched in 2016; second tranche of ₹10,000 crore
approved.
o Focus on funding deep tech and high-tech startups.
o ₹1 lakh crore R&D and Innovation
Fund
announced to support advanced research aligned with global standards.
·
Global
Interest in India’s Startup Ecosystem:
o Nearly 100 countries keen to build startup bridges with
India.
o Strong interest expressed during FTA
negotiations and diplomatic engagements.
·
Institutional
Strengthening by DPIIT:
o Ten years of policy-driven efforts to
expand:
§ Access to capital and mentorship
§ Institutional support mechanisms
§ Innovation-led and inclusive
entrepreneurship
·
National
Startup Day & Key Announcements:
o Results declared for:
§ 5th National Startup Awards (NSA 5.0)
§ 5th States’ Startup Ranking Framework (SRF
5.0)
o Awards span 20 categories, including
deep tech, Tier-II/Tier-III startups, and emerging sectors.
·
States’
Startup Ranking Framework:
o Evaluates States and UTs across:
§ Policy support, infrastructure, funding
access
§ Market linkages, capacity building,
innovation
o Participation from 34 States and UTs
highlights nationwide commitment.
·
Long-Term
National Vision:
o Startup India recognised as a cornerstone
of economic growth,
self-reliance, and innovation.
o Continues to advance the vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047,
positioning India as a leading global hub for entrepreneurship.
Calling
the ten-year journey of Startup India a revolution shaped by millions of dreams
and youthful imagination, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the initiative
has gone far beyond being a government scheme to become a defining movement of new
India, while addressing startup founders, innovators, and young entrepreneurs at
Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on National Startup Day, on 16 January, 2026.
Highlighting
that India has emerged as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem in just ten
years, he noted that the number of startups has grown from fewer than 500 in 2014
to over two lakh today, while the count of unicorns has
risen from four to nearly 125, with Indian startups increasingly launching IPOs,
creating jobs, and attracting global attention.
The
Prime Minister said that nearly 44,000 startups were registered in 2025 alone—the
highest in any single year—underscoring the accelerating momentum of the ecosystem.
Recalling interactions with young innovators from sectors such as agriculture, fintech,
mobility, health, and sustainability, he said their ideas, confidence, and ambition
reflected a new India focused on solving real-world problems. The Prime Minister
expressed satisfaction at meeting the youth and praised their courage to dream big,
stating that Startup India has given them an open sky to innovate and that many
of the young entrepreneurs present today would themselves become future case studies
in India’s startup success story.
Union
Minister for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Piyush Goyal, while addressing the event
said that ten years ago today, the Prime Minister of India presented a new line
of thought to the nation, calling upon the youth to transform themselves from job
seekers into job generators. He stated that the country is proud to witness this
transformation clearly taking shape under the Prime Minister’s leadership.
Mr.
Goyal recalled that when the Startup India initiative was launched in 2016, there
were only about 400 startups in the country. Today, the movement has expanded significantly,
with over two lakh startups registered with the Department for Promotion of Industry
and Internal Trade (DPIIT). He added that these startups have generated an estimated
21 lakh jobs across the country.
Highlighting
the widespread impact of Startup India, the Minister said that during his interactions
with students and faculty members at university convocations, he witnesses a new
sense of confidence among the youth. He noted that several campuses have transformed
into “mini Shark Tanks”, with students eager to convert
their ideas into reality. This change, he said, has been made possible through the
visionary leadership and constant encouragement of the Prime Minister.
Sharing
his experience of engaging with startups at IIT Madras’ Centre for Innovation,
Mr. Goyal said he was deeply impressed by the enthusiasm, creativity, and problem-solving
capabilities of the students. He emphasized that their talent and skills reflect
India’s potential to address global challenges and showcase innovation on the world
stage.
The
Minister noted that Indian startups are currently active in over 50 sectors, including
Deep Tech, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Quantum Computing, Agri-Tech,
Space Tech, Drone Technology, Aerospace, and Rocket Technology. He said startups
are prospering across all essential and high-impact sectors of the economy.
To
strengthen the startup ecosystem, Mr. Goyal recalled that the Government constituted
a Fund of Funds worth ₹10,000 crore in 2016 to provide seed capital and enable
startups to take calculated risks. Following the successful utilisation of the first
tranche, a second tranche of ₹10,000 crore was sanctioned in the last Union
Budget. He stated that the Government aims to deploy a significant portion of this
fund in deep tech and high-tech sectors to further encourage youth entrepreneurship.
The
Minister further highlighted that the Prime Minister has announced a ₹1 lakh
crore fund dedicated to research, development, and innovation, which will support
researchers, scientists, and startups in undertaking advanced research in deep tech
at par with global standards.
Mr.
Goyal pointed out that startups are now present in every corner of the country,
with nearly 50 per cent originating from Tier-II and Tier-III cities, demonstrating
that the startup revolution has truly become an Indian movement. He cited the North
Eastern region as a prime example, noting the commendable work of startups in Sikkim
and the collaboration between tea cultivators and youth in Assam to introduce modern
farming techniques. In southern India, he said Andhra Pradesh is emerging as the
drone capital of the country, while Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have become hubs for
deep tech and AI startups.
Stating
that the world views India with great optimism, Mr. Goyal said that during foreign
delegations and Free Trade Agreement negotiations, several countries have expressed
keen interest in establishing startup bridges with India. He estimated that nearly
100 countries are seeking to collaborate with India’s startup ecosystem through
inter-startup coordination platforms.
The
Minister concluded by expressing confidence that the seed of Startup India, sown
under the leadership of Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, will continue to flourish
and play a pivotal role in realizing the vision of Viksit Bharat, a dream shared
by 140 crore Indians.
As
India completes a landmark decade of the Startup India initiative, the Department
for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry,
commemorates ten years of sustained policy-driven efforts to build a strong, inclusive,
and innovation-led entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country. The celebrations culminate
today, with the observance of National Startup Day and the Result Declaration Ceremony
of the 5th editions of the States’ Startup Ranking Exercise and the National Startup
Awards, bringing together key stakeholders from across the startup ecosystem.
Launched
on 16th January 2016 by Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi, Startup India was envisioned
as a transformative initiative to nurture innovation, promote entrepreneurship,
and enable investment-driven growth with a vision of India being a nation of job
creators instead of job seekers.
Over
the past ten years, the initiative has emerged as a cornerstone of India’s economic
and innovation architecture, strengthening institutional mechanisms, expanding access
to capital and mentorship, and fostering an environment where startups can scale
across sectors and geographies. In recognition of the critical role played by startups
in nation-building, socio-economic development, and self-reliance, the Prime Minister,
in 2022, declared 16 January as National Startup Day.
Over
the past decade, the Indian startup ecosystem has recorded unprecedented expansion,
with more than 2,00,000 startups recognised by DPIIT across the country. These enterprises
have emerged as key drivers of employment generation, innovation-led economic growth,
and the strengthening of domestic value chains across diverse sectors. Through sustained
policy support, institutional facilitation, and ecosystem-wide collaboration, the
Startup India initiative continues to advance the national vision of Viksit Bharat
@ 2047 by fostering entrepreneurship as a catalyst for inclusive growth, technological
advancement, and long-term economic resilience.
As
part of the National Startup Day celebrations, DPIIT announced the results of the
fifth edition of the National Startup Awards (NSA 5.0) and the States’ Startup Ranking
Exercise (SRF 5.0), two flagship initiatives that have emerged as key national platforms
for driving ecosystem performance and recognising excellence across the startup
landscape.
The
National Startup Awards are designed to recognise startups that demonstrate excellence
in innovation, scalability, and societal impact, while providing a structured national
platform to showcase high-impact enterprises. The fifth edition of the Awards, coinciding
with the ten-year milestone of Startup India, reflects the evolving maturity of
the ecosystem through the introduction of new and future-oriented award categories.
Spread across 20 award categories, this edition of the National Startup Awards include
recognition for startups from Tier II and Tier III cities, deep-tech innovation,
and emerging sectors aligned with national development priorities.
The
States’ Startup Ranking Framework serves as a practical policy and governance tool
to assess how effectively States and Union Territories are enabling startup growth
on the ground. By encouraging both healthy competition and collaboration among state
governments, the framework supports the development of strong, well-functioning
startup ecosystems across the country.
The
fifth edition of the States’ Startup Ranking Framework builds on lessons from previous
editions and places greater emphasis on measurable outcomes, long-term sustainability,
and the resilience of startup ecosystems. States and Union Territories are evaluated
across six reform areas and nineteen clearly defined action points, covering policy
and institutional support, physical and digital infrastructure, access to funding,
market access and linkages, capacity building for entrepreneurs and ecosystem stakeholders,
and innovation-led growth. Participation from 34 States and Union Territories in
the current edition reflects a shared national commitment to improving implementation,
strengthening ecosystem maturity, and enabling startups to grow and scale across
regions.
The
National Startup Awards and the States’ Startup Ranking Exercise have decisively
shaped how startup success is recognised and how ecosystem performance is measured
across the country. By rewarding high-performing startups and assessing government
action at the State level, these initiatives have driven accountability, raised
standards, and accelerated the pace of ecosystem development nationwide.
As
Startup India completes ten years, this decade stands out for clear policy intent,
consistent execution, and growing entrepreneurial confidence. Startups today are
not only engines of innovation and job creation but also critical contributors to
economic strength and self-reliance, reinforcing India’s position as a leading global
destination for entrepreneurship and innovation.
Annexure–I: National Startup
Awards (NSA 5.0) – Category-wise Winners
|
Award
Category |
Startup
Name |
State
/ UT |
|
Agri-Innovation
Award |
AREETE |
Maharashtra |
|
Aspire
award |
FUSELAGE
INNOVATIONS PRIVATE LIMITED |
Kerala |
|
Best
Deeptech Startup Award |
TRINANO
TECHNOLOGIES PRIVATE LIMITED |
Maharashtra |
|
Bootstrapped
Award |
PUMP
ACADEMY PRIVATE LIMITED |
Karnataka |
|
Circular
Economy Innovator Award |
ECOSTP
TECHNOLOGIES PRIVATE LIMITED |
Karnataka |
|
Community
Development Catalyst |
CREDITBUCKET
TECHNOLOGIES PRIVATE LIMITED |
Bihar |
|
Creative
Industry Disruptive |
MEMERAKI
RETAIL AND TECH PRIVATE LIMITED |
Haryana |
|
F&B
Trailblazer |
Proxi Farma
Private Limited |
Maharashtra |
|
Fintech
Revolution Catalyst Award |
TIMBLE
TECHNOLOGIES PRIVATE LIMITED |
Delhi |
|
Health-Tech
Excellence Award |
BLUE
PHOENIX TECHNOLOGIES PRIVATE LIMITED |
Maharashtra |
|
Humanitarian
Impact |
KUBERJEE
TECH PRIVATE LIMITED |
Gujarat |
|
Inclusive
Design Excellence |
GLOVATRIX
PRIVATE LIMITED |
Maharashtra |
|
Innovation
Trailblazers |
SUNFOX
TECHNOLOGIES PRIVATE LIMITED |
Uttarakhand |
|
Make
in India Excellence |
GOAT
ROBOTICS PRIVATE LIMITED |
Tamil
Nadu |
|
NextGen
Innovator |
Meine
Electric Automotives Private Limited |
Delhi |
|
Rising
StarAward |
AVIOTRON
AEROSPACE PRIVATE LIMITED |
Rajasthan |
|
Supply
Chain Startup of the Year |
UdyogYantra
Technologies Private Limited |
Delhi |
|
Urban
Mobility Excellence |
ENTUPLE
E-MOBILITY PRIVATE LIMITED |
Karnataka |
|
Visionary
Award for Infrastructure |
HYPHEN
SCS PRIVATE LIMITED |
Uttar
Pradesh |
|
Women-Led
Innovator |
ARIVATION
FASHIONTECH PRIVATE LIMITED |
Haryana |
Annexure–II: States’ Startup
Ranking Framework (SRF 5.0) Results
Best
Performers
|
Category
A |
Gujarat |
|
Category
B |
Arunachal
Pradesh, Goa |
|
Top Performers |
|
|
Category
A |
Karnataka,
Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh |
|
Category
B |
Himachal
Pradesh |
|
Leaders |
|
|
Category
A |
Andhra
Pradesh, Haryana, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana,
Uttarakhand |
|
Category
B |
Manipur,
Meghalaya, Nagaland |
|
Aspiring Leaders |
|
|
Category
A |
Assam,
Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Odisha |
|
Category
B |
Andaman
and Nicobar Islands, Mizoram, Sikkim, Tripura |
|
Emerging Startup Ecosystems |
|
|
Category
A |
Chhattisgarh,
NCT of Delhi |
|
Category
B |
Chandigarh;
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu; Ladakh; Lakshadweep; Puducherry |