Lok Sabha Question No. 773 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-04
Subject: Start-ups in Technology Sector
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri Dileshwar Kamait

## MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 773 ANSWERED ON 04/02/2026

## START-UPS IN TECHNOLOGY SECTOR

## †773.   SHRI DILESHWAR KAMAIT:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  initiatives  to  assist start-ups  in  the  technology  sector  for  attaining  the  status  of  a unicorn;
- (b) if so, the details of such initiatives and the names of those startups  which  have  achieved  tangible  scale  as  a  result  of  these initiatives; and
- (c) the  outcomes and impact of these  initiatives  on  the  start-up ecosystem?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a) to (c): The Government has been actively supporting creation of conducive  ecosystem  for  innovators,  entrepreneurs  and  startups through its various schemes and initiatives across the country.

The Government has launched the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) scheme to support cutting edge technology, deeptech projects and startups. The main objectives of the RDI scheme are to encourage the private sector to scale up research, development and innovation (RDI), finance transformative projects, support  acquisition  of  technologies  which  are  critical  or  of  high strategic importance and facilitate setting up of Deep-Tech Fund of Funds. The scheme is led by the Department of Science & Technology (DST) as the nodal department. With an outlay of Rs. 1 lakh crore in next 6 years, the RDI scheme focuses on sunrise sectors including energy security and transition, and climate action; deep-technology including quantum computing, robotics and space; artificial intelligence and its application in agriculture, health and education; biotechnology, biomanufacturing, synthetic biology, pharma, medical devices; and digital economy including digital agriculture.

Under the National Quantum Mission (NQM), DST has actively supported startups working in the domain of quantum technologies, specifically quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum sensing, and quantum materials & devices. The Mission is to support an  expanding  pool  of  quantum  startups,  provide  them  appropriate provide mentorship opportunities through partnerships with industry. Under NQM, financial support has been provided to seven startups in the funding, give access to advanced infrastructure, and different areas of Quantum Technologies.

DST is implementing the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems (NM-ICPS). Under this mission, 25 Technology Innovation Hubs (TIHs) have been established in reputed academic institutions  across  the  country.  Each  TIH  specializes  in advanced technology domains such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning (ML), Robotics, Internet of Things (IoT), Cybersecurity, Quantum Technologies, FinTech, etc. More than 800 Startups have been benefitted under the mission.

DST  through  'NIDHI'  (National  Initiative  for  Developing  and Harnessing  Innovations)  program  has  extended  end-to-end  startup support  to  nurture  startups  from  ideation  to  commercialization.  It includes a variety of program components for Startups like PRAYAS prototyping  grant  for  early-stage  innovative  ideas,  hand-holding support to startups through Technology Business Incubators, seed startup funding and  acceleration support for rapid scaling of businesses.

Under  the  Startup  India initiative launched  in  2016,  the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has provided a platform for registering Indian startups. As of now over 2 lakh  entities  have  been  recognized  as  startups  by  DPIIT.  Under Startup  India  initiative,  the  Government  constantly  undertakes various efforts to support startups across industries and sectors. The flagship Schemes namely, Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS), Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) and Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS) support startups at various stages of their business cycle.

The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) has been providing early-stage funding to biotech startups and entrepreneurs under Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) scheme and BioNEST (Bio-Incubators Nurturing Entrepreneurship for Scaling Technologies).  BIRAC  has  been  instrumental  in  building  a  vibrant biotech innovation ecosystem  in India.  Through Public-Private Partnerships, it has undertaken a multitude of activities, ranging from

funding  high-risk  translational  research,  supporting  nascent  ideas and establishing specialised bio-incubation centres.

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has been  providing  financial  and  technical  support  under  Technology Incubation and Development of Entrepreneurs (TIDE) and Gen-Next Support  for  Innovative  Startup  (GENESIS)  schemes  to  Deep  Tech startups in the domain of Electronics and ICT domain. Department of Space (DoS) has established Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization  Center  (IN-SPACe),  which  is  driving  India's  Space startup ecosystem.

Innovations  for  Defence  Excellence  (iDEX),  was  launched  in 2018 to foster innovation & technology development in Defence & Startups/  MSMEs/ Individual  Innovators,  R&D  institute  and  Academia.  iDEX  provides grants and other support to iDEX winners (Startups/SMEs) to carry out  R&D  which  has  potential  for  Indian  Defence  and  Aerospace

Aerospace by engaging industries including needs.

The  S&T  based  entrepreneurial  infrastructure and  strong support mechanisms created by the Government during the last 10 years  such  as  translational  research  hubs,  startup  incubators, research labs, fabrication facilities, generous support from ideation to Proof of Concept (POC), seed funding to acceleration, assistance in raising external funding, etc has provided seamless opportunities to students and innovators to take up entrepreneurship as career and own innovative ventures.

The initiatives of Government have significantly strengthened India's  startup  and  innovation  ecosystem  by  improving  access  to capital, easing regulatory barriers, and expanding incubation infrastructure. They have also fostered wider economic development by promoting entrepreneurship beyond major cities. In their journey, four of the DST supported startups have reached to Unicorn status. Some  of  the  startups  supported  under  DST  programs  who  have attained tangible scale are QuNu  Labs,  QpiAI, Ather Energy, IdeaForge, Offgrid Energy Labs, etc.

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