New Delhi: The Startup India initiative has achieved a historic milestone, with the Government recognizing more than 55,200 startups during Financial Year 2025-26 – the highest number recorded in a single year since the launch of the Startup India initiative.
Launched on 16 January 2016, the Startup India initiative was introduced with a comprehensive Action Plan comprising schemes and incentives aimed at building a strong ecosystem for innovation, encouraging private investment, and supporting startups across India.
Since its inception, multiple programmes under the Startup India initiative have been implemented to recognize, develop, and empower emerging ventures nationwide.
As of 31 March 2026, the total number of startups recognized under the Startup India initiative has crossed 2.23 lakh, collectively generating more than 23.36 lakh direct jobs.
Notably, over 1.07 lakh recognized startups have at least one woman director or partner, accounting for nearly 48% of the total recognized startups under the Startup India initiative.
The growth trajectory under the initiative remains strong, with the number of startups recognized increasing by 51.6% year-on-year in FY 2025-26 compared to FY 2024-25. Additionally, direct job creation under the initiative rose by 36.1% during the same period.
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Startup India Initiative Enables Expansion of Startups Across All States and Union Territories
Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Gujarat have emerged as leading regions in terms of recognized startups and employment generation as of 31 March 2026.
Maharashtra leads with over 38,660 recognized startups generating more than 4,13,900 jobs, followed by Karnataka with 22,600+ startups and 2,46,000+ jobs.
Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Gujarat also demonstrate strong performance, reinforcing the widespread impact of the Startup India initiative.
Other key contributors include Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Haryana, Kerala, and Rajasthan, reflecting the growing penetration of the Startup India initiative beyond traditional startup hubs.
Strengthened Financial Support Mechanisms
The Government continues to bolster the Startup India initiative through flagship schemes such as the Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS), Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS), and the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS), offering financial assistance at various stages of the startup lifecycle.
Under the Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS), more than ₹7,000 crore has been disbursed to over 135 Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) by the end of FY 2025-26.
These AIFs have further invested over ₹26,900 crore into more than 1,420 startups, amplifying the impact of the initiative.
Additionally, the Government has introduced Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 with a corpus of ₹10,000 crore to further strengthen funding support.
Enhanced Credit Access for Startups
The Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS) under the Startup India initiative has been expanded in FY 2025-26 to improve capital accessibility.
Key enhancements include increasing the guarantee cover per borrower from ₹10 crore to ₹20 crore, expanding the extent of guarantee coverage, and reducing annual guarantee fees for lenders in identified sectors.
By the end of FY 2025-26, more than 410 loans amounting to over ₹1,250 crore have been guaranteed under the CGSS, reinforcing financial inclusion within the Startup India initiative framework.
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Seed Funding and Incubation Support
Under the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS), 219 incubators have been selected, with the entire corpus of ₹945 crore committed.
These incubators have approved funding exceeding ₹605 crore for more than 3,400 startups. The extension of the scheme ensures continued disbursement and completion of approved activities, further strengthening the ecosystem.
Boost in Innovation and Patent Filings
Innovation under the Startup India initiative has also translated into significant growth in intellectual property generation. Startups have filed more than 19,400 patent applications cumulatively.
In FY 2025-26 alone, patent filings increased sharply to over 4,480 compared to more than 2,850 in FY 2024-25, underscoring the innovation-driven momentum of the initiative.
Public Procurement Gains Momentum via GeM
The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) continues to play a crucial role in supporting startups under the Startup India initiative by enabling their participation in public procurement.
More than 38,600 startups have been onboarded on the GeM platform. In FY 2025-26, over 1,40,260 orders were placed with startups, with the total order value exceeding ₹19,190 crore.
This marks a significant increase from FY 2024-25, highlighting the growing integration of startups into government procurement systems through the Startup India initiative.
