‘Over 50 Startups Are Being Recognised In India Per Day’: Industry Minister Piyush Goyal | Economy News

Last Updated:January 16, 2026, 13:16 IST

‘In the past decade, the government has adopted timely and agile policy interventions to make the startup ecosystem robust and business-friendly,’ says Goyal in a post on X.

India now has more than 2 lakh DPIIT-recognised startups as of December 31, 2025.

India’s startup ecosystem has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past decade, emerging as one of the most vibrant and widely distributed entrepreneurial landscapes in the world, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Friday as the government marked 10 years of the Startup India initiative. He added that over 50 startups are being recognised in India per day.

In a post on X, Goyal said, “In the past decade, the government has adopted timely and agile policy interventions to make the startup ecosystem robust and business-friendly. The focus has been on encouraging innovative ideas and helping them scale. Now, with India’s strengthening trade partnerships with countries globally, more avenues will open for our startups to expand their markets, create global impact, and build the next generation of Indian success stories.”

Official data released by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) show that India now has more than 2 lakh DPIIT-recognised startups as of December 31, 2025. These ventures have collectively generated over 21 lakh jobs, with more than 50 startups being recognised every day on average. The pace of growth has been particularly sharp in recent years, with the highest year-on-year growth of 31% recorded between 2024 and 2025.

“Over 50 Startups are being recognised in India per day. #10YearsOfStartupIndia has enabled our innovators to turn ideas into enterprises and contribute meaningfully to India’s growth story,” he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post on X said, “Best wishes to everyone associated with the world of StartUps on the occasion of National StartUp Day. Today is special because we mark a decade since the launch of StartUp India. This day is about celebrating the courage, spirit of innovation and entrepreneurial zeal of our people, especially our youth, who have powered India’s rise in the global StartUp ecosystem.”

The expansion of the ecosystem has also been geographically broad-based. Over 50% of recognised startups are now coming from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, while startups are present in every state and Union Territory. The ecosystem spans more than 55 industries, reflecting increasing diversification beyond technology services into manufacturing, deep tech, agritech, space, defence and other emerging areas. Notably, more than 45% of startups have at least one woman director or partner, highlighting rising female participation in entrepreneurship.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said India’s innovation ecosystem has emerged as a powerful driver of growth, employment and economic transformation.

“As we mark a decade of #StartupIndia journey, India’s innovation ecosystem has emerged as a powerful driver of growth, employment and economic transformation. Under PM Narendra Modi ji’s leadership, sustained reforms, robust digital infrastructure and strong policy support have empowered our entrepreneurs and strengthened India’s global footprint,” Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar said in a post on X.

Goyal said recognised startups have clocked a compounded annual growth rate of around 95% over the decade. Innovation output has risen sharply as well, with over 16,400 new patent applications filed by startups following reforms in the intellectual property rights regime.

Public procurement has emerged as a major growth lever through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM). Procurement norms were relaxed to enable easier participation by startups, and the GeM Startup Runway provided direct access to government buyers. As a result, over 34,800 startups have been onboarded on the GeM portal and have received more than 4.9 lakh orders worth over Rs 49,000 crore, giving a significant boost to domestic production, particularly among MSMEs.

On the funding side, the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme has strengthened early-stage financing. More than 215 incubators have been selected under the scheme, with ₹945 crore approved for them. These incubators, in turn, have approved over ₹590 crore for more than 3,200 startup applications, helping young ventures bridge the critical early funding gap.

The government’s Fund of Funds for Startups has also played a catalytic role. An entire corpus of Rs 10,000 crore has been committed to alternative investment funds, which have together invested over Rs 25,500 crore in more than 1,370 startups, crowding in private capital and accelerating growth.

Access to debt financing has improved through the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups, under which more than 330 loans worth over Rs 800 crore have been guaranteed for startup borrowers, easing constraints for companies that lack traditional collateral.

Regulatory reforms have been another pillar of the Startup India programme. Over 4,100 recognised startups have been granted tax exemption certificates under Section 80-IAC of the Income Tax Act. More than 60 regulatory reforms have been undertaken to reduce compliance burdens, while startups have been allowed online self-certification under nine labour laws and three environmental laws for up to five years. As many as 28 states have adopted labour law self-certification, nine states have integrated with the Shram Suvidha Portal, and 36 white-category industries have been identified under environmental laws.

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