Lok Sabha Question No. 176 (STARRED), answered on 2025-03-11
Subject: Promotion of Vocal for Local Startups
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Shri Bharat Singh Kushwah

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

## LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. 176.

TO BE ANSWERED ON TUESDAY, THE 11 TH  MARCH, 2025.

## PROMOTION OF VOCAL FOR LOCAL STARTUPS

## *176.  SHRI BHARAT SINGH KUSHWAH:

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

- (a) the details of the efforts made by the Government to promote Vocal for Local;
- (b) the details of the startups launched in urban and rural areas in the country and the criteria for the selection of trainees in the said startups, State and UT-wise particularly in Madhya Pradesh;
- (c) the details of the candidates trained and engaged in economic activities in the year 2022-23 and 2023-24 under the startup schemes being run in Gwalior district; and
- (d) whether the Government proposes to increase the number of training centres at rural level in the country and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER वाणिज्य  एवं उद्योग मंत्री )श्री पीयूष गोयल( THE MINISTER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI  PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  THE  LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 176 FOR ANSWER ON 11.03.2025

- (a): 'Make in India' Initiative was launched on 25th September, 2014 to facilitate Investment, foster Innovation, build best in class Infrastructure, and make India a hub for manufacturing, design, and innovation. It is one of the unique 'Vocal for Local' initiatives that promoted India's manufacturing domain to the world. Investment outreach is being done through Ministries, State Governments and Indian Missions abroad for enhancing International co-operation for promoting Domestic and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the country. Presently, Make in  India  2.0  focuses  on  27  sectors  implemented  across  various  Ministries/ Departments and State Governments.

To further promote 'Make in India' as part of 'Vocal for Local', the Government has issued Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order, 2017 as amended on 19.07.2024 to encourage Make in India and promote manufacturing and  production  of  goods  and  services  in  India.  Also,  for recognised  startups  under  the  Startup  India  initiative,  the  Government  has relaxed conditions of prior turnover, prior experience and submission of earnest money deposit in public procurement, subject to meeting quality and technical specifications. This is also enabled by Government e-Marketplace for startups to sell directly to government buyers.

Further, the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative also aims to promote products from each district of the country under 'Vocal for Local'. Under ODOP initiative,  products  are  identified  by  the  respective  States/Union  Territories (UTs)  and  various  efforts  are  undertaken  to  enhance  branding,  promotion, efficient  supply  chain  management,  and  marketing  for  these  products  by establishing  recognition  via  exhibitions  and  trade  fairs,  developing  a  unique identity that highlights the cultural and traditional value of products, facilitating links between producers, buyers, and retailers, and utilizing digital platforms, and e-commerce dto maximize visibility and sale of ODOP products.

The Government is also taking various steps to promote and help Geographical Indication (Gl)-tagged product manufacturers access the global market as part of 'Vocal for Local' such as marketing through Agricultural & Processed Food Products  Export  Development  Authority  (APEDA)  and  export  promotion councils. Support is also extended to GI producers and artisans for participation in  international  trade  fairs,  promotion  through  short  films  and  videos,  and creation  and  dissemination  of  a  digital  catalogue  featuring  registered  GI products for reaching out to global audiences.

- (b) & (c): Startup India is an initiative by the Government of India.The Government, with an  intent  to  build  a  strong  ecosystem  for  nurturing  innovation,  startups  and encouraging investments in the startup ecosystem of the country launched the Startup India initiative on 16th January 2016.

As per eligibility conditions prescribed under G.S.R. notification 127 (E) dated 19th  February  2019,  entities  are  recognized  as  'startups'  under  the  Startup

India  initiative by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).  As on 31 st  January 2025, 1,61,150 entities have been recognised as startups by DPIIT. Of these, 5,211 entities have been recognized as startups in the State of Madhya Pradesh, as on 31 st     January 2025.

The  State/Union  Territory  (UT)-wise  details  of  entities  which  have  been recognised as startups by DPIIT as on 31 st     January 2025, including in the State of Madhya Pradesh, is placed as Annexure-I.

Under the  Startup  India  initiative,  the  support  is  provided  to  the  recognised startups. The training of employees or other stakeholders by startups is their respective business decision. Therefore, the criteria for the selection of trainees in the said startups and the details of the candidates trained and engaged in economic activities are not centrally maintained by the Government.

- (d): The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is the nodal department for matters relating to Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). As per MSDE,  through  autonomous  Institutes  namely  the  National  Institute  for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD), Noida, and the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati, the Government has made  efforts  to  promote  Vocal  for  Local.  These  institutes  organize  and participate  in  regional  and  national  fairs  and  exhibitions  to  promote  local products. These events provide local artisans with platforms to showcase and sell  their  products  to  a  broader  audience.  Some  of  the  recent  fairs  include Manthan, Aadi Mahotsav, Advantage Assam, Purvottar Aadi Mahotsav, Assam Sahitya Sabha, Aatma Nirbhar Dhemaji, and Prakton  Awasi Sammelan. These ongoing efforts demonstrate the Government's commitment to promoting local entrepreneurship and increasing the number of training centres, especially in rural areas, under the "Vocal for Local" initiative.

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## Annexure-I ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (b) & (c) OF THE LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 176 FOR ANSWER ON 11.03.2025

State/UT-wise number of entities which have been recognised as startups by DPIIT as on 31 st  January 2025:

| States/UTs                               | Total    |
|------------------------------------------|----------|
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands              | 71       |
| Andhra Pradesh                           | 2,639    |
| Arunachal Pradesh                        | 55       |
| Assam                                    | 1,514    |
| Bihar                                    | 3,286    |
| Chandigarh                               | 539      |
| Chhattisgarh                             | 1,776    |
| Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | 66       |
| Delhi                                    | 16,356   |
| Goa                                      | 596      |
| Gujarat                                  | 13,400   |
| Haryana                                  | 8,400    |
| Himachal Pradesh                         | 578      |
| Jammu and Kashmir                        | 1,009    |
| Jharkhand                                | 1,515    |
| Karnataka                                | 16,954   |
| Kerala                                   | 6,477    |
| Ladakh                                   | 18       |
| Lakshadweep                              | 3        |
| Madhya Pradesh                           | 5,211    |
| Maharashtra                              | 28,511   |
| Manipur                                  | 185      |
| Meghalaya                                | 63       |
| Mizoram                                  | 44       |
| Nagaland                                 | 88       |
| Odisha                                   | 2,828    |
| Puducherry                               | 167      |
| Punjab                                   | 1,775    |
| Rajasthan                                | 5,688    |
| Sikkim                                   | 13       |
| Tamil Nadu                               | 10,814   |
| Telangana                                | 8,437    |
| Tripura                                  | 147      |
| Uttar Pradesh                            | 15,360   |
| Uttarakhand                              | 1,300    |
| West Bengal                              | 5,267    |
| Total                                    | 1,61,150 |

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