Lok Sabha Question No. 2648 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-05
Subject: Startups India Initiative
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Shri Naveen Jindal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT FOR PROMOTION OF INDUSTRY AND INTERNAL TRADE

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2648. TO BE ANSWERED ON TUESDAY, THE 05 TH  AUGUST, 2025.

## STARTUPS INDIA INITIATIVE

## 2648.  SHRI NAVEEN JINDAL:

## Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state: वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- (a) the details of the total number of startups recognised under the Startup India initiative since its inception State-wise and year-wise;
- (b) the details of the initiatives that have been taken to support women-led startups and promote inclusive entrepreneurship;
- (c) the details of the international partnerships to enable cross-border collaboration between Indian startups and global investors, incubators, and accelerators;
- (d) the  details  of  the  steps  being  taken  to  create  an  Al-driven  National  Startup Registry  with  real-time  tracking  of  regulatory  compliance,  mentorship  needs and investment readiness;
- (e) whether the Government has introduced or plans to introduce credit guarantees or  alternative  financing  models  to  assist  startups  in  accessing  non-equity capital, if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether  any  studies  have  been  conducted  to  measure  the  socio-economic impact of Indian startups in terms of innovation, income generation and digital inclusion, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री ( श्री णिणिन प्रसाद ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

- (a): As of  30 th   June  2025,  a  total  of  1,80,683  entities  have  been  recognised  as startups under Startup India initiative by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). The State/Union Territory (UT)-wise and year-wise number of entities recognised as startups by DPIIT is placed as Annexure-I .
- (b): The Government is implementing certain specific schemes/programmes which are supporting women-led startups and promoting inclusive entrepreneurship. The details of such Government initiatives are placed as Annexure-II .

As  a  result  of  such  efforts,  of  the  total  of  1,80,683  entities  recognised  as startups,  87,285  have  at  least  one-woman director/partner,  as  on  30 th   June 2025.

- (c): The Government has undertaken multiple initiatives for international partnerships with the aim to enable cross-border collaboration between Indian startups and global stakeholders.

These  include  hosting  flagship  events  like  Startup  Mahakumbh  and  Global Venture Capital Summits to connect startups with investors, incubators, and other  stakeholders.  Bilateral  initiatives  (such  as  Startup  Bridges)  to  support cross-border knowledge exchange and help Indian startups expand internationally through mentorship, incubation, and networking. Furthermore, through  multilateral  forums,  such  as  the  Startup20  Engagement  Group established  during  India's  G20  Presidency,  the  Government  fosters  global collaboration  for  Indian  startup  ecosystem.  Also,  delegations  are  led  to prominent  international  startup  events,  providing  a  platform  for  showcasing innovations, building networks, and gaining global visibility.

- (d): Startup India portal (https://www.startupindia.gov.in/) is the national portal for startup  ecosystem which is implemented as part of the Startup India Action Plan.  It  is  a  comprehensive  portal  for  startups  to  stay  up  to  date  on policy matters, regulations, and access various initiatives, and Schemes. Through a blockchain-  based  certificate  verification  platform,  certificates  are  issued  to recognized startups through the Startup India portal which can be utilized by various stakeholders to verify the authenticity of the information submitted by startups,  for  availing  support  under  different  Schemes/programs  of  the Government.  Startup  India  portal  also  enables  and  promotes  Application Programming Interface (API) with various stakeholders including startup portals of States/UTs, National Single Window System and Government e-Marketplace (GeM), etc. thereby synchronizing startup recognition and authenticity verification mechanisms.

The Startup India portal also includes various microsites to enable interconnectedness amongst larger startup ecosystem. Major national programs under Startup India initiative such as States' Startup Ranking (SRF) exercise, National Startup Awards, Startup  India  Seed  Fund  Scheme, Mentorship, Advisory, Assistance, Resilience, and Growth (MAARG) mentorship program, etc. are hosted through such micro-sites. Startup India portal also hosts and assists in managing innovation challenges for various line Ministries/Departments and partner institutes.

- (e): The Government has introduced credit guarantees and alternative financing models to assist startups in accessing non-equity capital.

The  Government  is  implementing  Credit  Guarantee  Scheme  for  Startups (CGSS)  to provide credit guarantee against credit instruments extended by Member  Institutions  (MI)  to  finance  eligible  DPIIT  recognised  startups.  This Scheme enables collateral free debt funding to startups.

Further, funding in the form of grants and debt is enabled through Schemes/initiatives such as the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS), INSPACe  Seed  fund, Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship Development programme,  National  Initiative  for  Developing  and  Harnessing  innovations (NIDHI)  programmes,  Biotechnology  Industry  Research  Assistance  Council (BIRAC) programmes, Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), Technology

Development Fund (TDF), TIDE 2.0 (Technology Incubation and Development of Entrepreneurs) Scheme, and Research Development and Innovation (RDI) amongst others.

- (f): Under  the  Startup  India  initiative,  impact  assessment  studies  have  been undertaken  for  the  flagship  Fund  of  Funds  for  Startups  (FFS)  Scheme  and the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS).

The studies note that FFS has supported seeding domestic fund managers, multiplier  effect  on  capital  raise  by  AIFs  through  FFS,  and  employment generation  and  diversity  in  startups.  The  studies  have  also  highlighted  the contribution  of  the  FFS  in  the  development  of  a  strong  talent  pool  in  fund management by anchoring funds, nurturing fund managers and promoting good governance  practices  within  AIFs.  Aggregate  revenues  of  the  supported startups  have  grown  over  the  period,  which  is  expected  to  have  been accompanied with a corresponding increase in employment as well.

For  SISFS,  the  impact  assessment  study  highlights  the  Scheme's  role  in providing much-needed seed capital for startups which is catalyzing the startup ecosystem in the country. Further, a considerable number of surveyed startups in  the  study  reported  increase  in  their  annualized  turnover  and  employees count, following their receipt of funding from the SISFS, indicating a growth in their business operations and revenue generation.

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## ANNEXURE-I

## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2648 FOR ANSWER ON 05.08.2025 .

The State/Union Territory (UT)-wise and year-wise number of entities recognised as Startups by DPIIT, as on 30 th  June 2025 are as follows:

| State/UT                                 |   2016 |   2017 |   2018 |   2019 |   2020 |   2021 |   2022 |   2023 |   2024 |   2025 |
|------------------------------------------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands              |      0 |      1 |      2 |      8 |      5 |     13 |      9 |     13 |     20 |      6 |
| Andhra Pradesh                           |      4 |    103 |    161 |    179 |    235 |    298 |    381 |    585 |    606 |    598 |
| Arunachal Pradesh                        |      0 |      0 |      2 |      2 |      0 |      4 |      9 |     18 |     13 |     24 |
| Assam                                    |     10 |     35 |     68 |     71 |    119 |    190 |    285 |    361 |    347 |    261 |
| Bihar                                    |      1 |     47 |    148 |    158 |    265 |    390 |    526 |    813 |    842 |    576 |
| Chandigarh                               |      9 |     22 |     27 |     41 |     55 |     69 |     81 |    126 |    102 |     59 |
| Chhattisgarh                             |     11 |     57 |    121 |    166 |    155 |    167 |    237 |    362 |    460 |    236 |
| Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu |      0 |      4 |      1 |      3 |      5 |     12 |     12 |     11 |     16 |     10 |
| Delhi                                    |     74 |    742 |   1190 |   1451 |   1816 |   2216 |   2580 |   3160 |   2852 |   1840 |
| Goa                                      |      2 |     20 |     44 |     43 |     67 |     81 |    107 |     98 |    125 |     87 |
| Gujarat                                  |     29 |    299 |    449 |    644 |    881 |   1728 |   2282 |   3295 |   3444 |   2168 |
| Haryana                                  |     28 |    270 |    488 |    730 |    831 |   1071 |   1335 |   1743 |   1731 |   1178 |
| Himachal Pradesh                         |      0 |      9 |     17 |     31 |     41 |     56 |    120 |    144 |    145 |     83 |
| Jammu and Kashmir                        |      2 |     15 |     47 |     38 |     64 |    131 |    170 |    246 |    275 |    222 |
| Jharkhand                                |      2 |     35 |     88 |     89 |    165 |    191 |    239 |    337 |    331 |    229 |
| Karnataka                                |     67 |    889 |   1212 |   1746 |   1776 |   2157 |   2568 |   3034 |   3173 |   2105 |
| Kerala                                   |     25 |    172 |    333 |    669 |    710 |    923 |   1078 |   1296 |   1155 |    786 |
| Ladakh                                   |      0 |      0 |      1 |      0 |      1 |      1 |      5 |      5 |      5 |      1 |
| Lakshadweep                              |      0 |      0 |      0 |      0 |      1 |      0 |      0 |      2 |      0 |      0 |
| Madhya Pradesh                           |      7 |    108 |    297 |    335 |    427 |    562 |    898 |   1267 |   1194 |    789 |
| Maharashtra                              |     93 |   1107 |   1662 |   2227 |   2736 |   3736 |   4812 |   5816 |   5736 |   3745 |
| Manipur                                  |      0 |      4 |      7 |      6 |     13 |     37 |     31 |     26 |     55 |     32 |
| Meghalaya                                |      0 |      0 |      2 |      6 |      0 |      9 |     10 |     18 |     17 |     10 |
| Mizoram                                  |      0 |      0 |      2 |      1 |      1 |      2 |      6 |     13 |     16 |     11 |
| Nagaland                                 |      1 |      4 |      2 |      2 |      5 |      7 |      7 |     22 |     35 |     18 |
| Odisha                                   |      4 |    115 |    168 |    187 |    280 |    397 |    451 |    620 |    547 |    392 |
| Puducherry                               |      0 |      3 |     16 |     11 |     14 |     17 |     30 |     43 |     27 |     30 |
| Punjab                                   |      7 |     31 |     70 |     99 |    146 |    244 |    294 |    443 |    406 |    273 |
| Rajasthan                                |     14 |    140 |    246 |    358 |    503 |    622 |    992 |   1445 |   1246 |    899 |
| Sikkim                                   |      0 |      1 |      0 |      2 |      1 |      4 |      2 |      2 |      0 |      4 |
| Tamil Nadu                               |     52 |    272 |    459 |    632 |    772 |   1107 |   1811 |   2816 |   2656 |   1447 |
| Telangana                                |     20 |    328 |    512 |    620 |    819 |    994 |   1381 |   1760 |   1809 |   1404 |
| Tripura                                  |      0 |      0 |      4 |      7 |     23 |     12 |     27 |     23 |     45 |     23 |
| Uttar Pradesh                            |     28 |    414 |    789 |    905 |   1401 |   1980 |   2582 |   3434 |   3487 |   2449 |
| Uttarakhand                              |      4 |     45 |     69 |     98 |    114 |    162 |    236 |    271 |    269 |    211 |
| West Bengal                              |      8 |    181 |    276 |    320 |    405 |    692 |   1002 |   1174 |   1107 |    771 |
| Total                                    |    502 |   5473 |   8980 |  11885 |  14852 |  20282 |  26596 |  34842 |  34294 |  22977 |

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## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (b)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2648 FOR ANSWER ON 05.08.2025 .

## Programs implemented to support women-led startups and promote inclusive entrepreneurship :

1.  To promote flow of both equity and debt to women led startups, 10% of the fund in the Fund of Funds for Startups Scheme operationalized by Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) is reserved for women-led startups.
2.  Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) led by women are eligible to be considered for a higher level of management fee (0.1% per annum). The same benefit is also extended to AIFs which are focused on women led startups.
3.  Under Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS), for availing the guarantee cover, the Member Institution pays Annual Guarantee Fee (AGF) of 2% p.a. of the disbursement/outstanding amount. For units from the North East region as well as those of women entrepreneurs, the Member Institution pays a standard rate of 1.5% p.a. of the disbursement/outstanding amount.
4.  Women  Capacity Development Programme  (WING), a unique Capacity Development  Program  for  women-led  startups,  to  identify  and  support  both aspiring  and  established  women  entrepreneurs  in  their  startup  journeys.  The workshops  open  to  variety  of  business  sectors  including  Tech,  Construction, Product,  Machine,  Food,  Agriculture,  Education,  etc.  serve  as  a  platform  for emerging  women  entrepreneurs  and  other  stakeholders  to  discuss  the  key challenges facing women entrepreneurs. WING workshops create a conducive environment to share best practices and experiences in overcoming challenges and to gain insights learned from the business models adopted in the Indian context.
5.  A  Virtual  Incubation  Program  for  Women  Entrepreneurs  was  conducted  to support women-led tech startups with pro-bono acceleration support.
6.  Startup  India  Hub:  A  webpage  dedicated  to  women  entrepreneurs  has  been designed on the Startup India portal. The page includes various policy measures for women entrepreneurs by both Central and State Governments.
7.  ASCEND Startup Workshop Series and Women for Startups Workshops: The Government organized a series of startup workshops - ASCEND (Accelerating Startup Calibre &  Entrepreneurial Drive), for the entrepreneurs,  aspiring entrepreneurs, and  students from North-eastern region. In addition, the workshops are conducted with a specific focus on women entrepreneurs across the northeastern States.
8.  SuperStree Podcast: With a vision to inspire a greater number of women across all  regions  in  India  to  become  entrepreneurs,  the  SuperStree  video  podcast series  has  been  launched  on  women  in  the  Indian  Startup  Ecosystem.  The podcast spreads awareness related to innovations from women and to further strengthen women entrepreneurship in the country.
9.  Startup Learning Program for Women in Technology and Accelerating Women Entrepreneurs Program were conducted to support women entrepreneurs with training, mentorship, business support, product and market support, and investor connect.
10.  Through  various  awareness  programmes  and  capacity  building  programmes organized  by  the  Government,  and  through  print  media  and  social  media platforms, the Government also creates awareness about the existing schemes which  support  micro,  small  and  medium  entrepreneurs,  including  women entrepreneurs.
11.  Women For Startups: State Workshops for Women Entrepreneurs held across States to build the capacity of aspiring and existing women entrepreneurs. The workshops  focused  on  government  scheme  awareness,  mock  pitching,  and finance-related training.
12.  President's Interaction with Women Entrepreneurs: As part of the 'The President with the People' initiative, women entrepreneurs had the opportunity to interact with the Hon'ble President of India. The interaction highlighted the role of womenled  startups  in  driving  innovation,  creating  jobs,  and  contributing  to  India's growing startup ecosystem. The Hon'ble President acknowledged their efforts in turning ideas into ventures and emphasized the importance of their success in inspiring future generations.
13.  The States' Startup Ranking on support to startup ecosystems is primarily an exercise to identify good practices across all the Indian states. The evaluation includes  a  specific  provision  to  gauge  the  formulation  and  implementation  of policies and special incentives to promote women-led startups in each State/UT.
14.  To identify the depth, quality and spread of innovation, inclusivity and diversity, and entrepreneurship in country, the Government instituted the National Startup Awards  (NSA).  NSA  recognizes  and  promotes  startups  across  sectors  and special  categories  including  a  special  category  and  award  for  women-led startups.
15.  Pitch  Forward,  an  initiative  to  provide  women  entrepreneurs,  especially  from non-metros,  a  platform  to  connect  with  marquee  investors.  It  offers  startups across various stages and sectors the opportunity to pitch directly to venture capital funds.
16.  Other Ministries and Departments are also implementing various programmes and initiatives to support women entrepreneurship and capacity building such as Digital  Marketing  and  Entrepreneurship  Development  for  Women  Self  Help Groups (WSHGs), Adivasi Mahila Sashaktikaran Yojana (AMSY), SANKALP: HEW  (Supportive  Action  for  Nurturing  and  Knowledge-Based  Advancement, Last-Mile Delivery and Potential Realization of Women : Hub for Empowerment of  Women),  Women  Entrepreneurship  Development  Programme  (WEDP), Science and Technology for Women (STW) programme, Swavalambini - Women Entrepreneurship Programme, Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP), Skill Upgradation and Mahila Coir Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM  VIKAS),  as  well  as  awareness  programmes  and  incentives  in  public procurement amongst others.

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