New Delhi: India’s startup ecosystem has crossed a landmark moment, with the country now home to more than two lakh government-recognised startups, marking the strongest annual performance since the launch of the Startup India initiative in 2016. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced on Friday that over 44,000 new entities were recognised in 2025 alone, the highest number recorded in a single year.
The minister said the growth reflects the expanding role of entrepreneurship in India’s economic development, supported by targeted policy measures and sustained public funding. Under the Startup India programme, recognised startups are eligible for a range of incentives, including income tax relief and access to government-backed funding schemes.
An incredible milestone to wrap up 2025!
India is now home to over 2 lakh government-recognised startups, with over 44,000 entities recognised this year alone, the highest in a year since the inception of the @StartupIndia initiative.
What makes this success sweeter is that… pic.twitter.com/5p6aHh16Uk
— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) December 12, 2025
Increasing participation of women in Indian startup sector
Highlighting the increasing participation of women in the startup sector, Goyal said nearly half of all recognised startups now include at least one woman director or partner. “What makes this success sweeter is that nearly 48 per cent of these startups have at least one woman director/partner. These startups have also helped generate over 21 lakh direct jobs,” he said in a social media post.
Government-backed funding has continued to play a central role in supporting early stage and growth stage ventures. According to official figures shared by the minister, more than Rs 25,320 crore has been invested in over 1,350 startups through Alternative Investment Funds under the Fund of Funds for Startups Scheme. In addition, Rs 775 crore has been granted under the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups, aimed at improving access to credit for young companies without extensive collateral.
Startup India Seed Fund Scheme witnesses massive uptake
The Startup India Seed Fund Scheme has also seen significant uptake, with over Rs 585 crore approved for more than 3,200 startup applications through recognised incubators. Innovation activity has kept pace with this expansion, as startups filed more than 16,400 new patent applications during the year, underlining a growing focus on intellectual property and original research.
Goyal described the milestone as a strong endorsement of the government’s vision for self-reliant growth. “An incredible milestone to wrap up 2025! India is now home to over 2 lakh government-recognised startups, with over 44,000 entities recognised this year alone, the highest in a year since the inception of the Startup India initiative,” he wrote.
He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for an Aatmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat had found wide resonance among entrepreneurs, innovators and investors. Beyond funding and recognition, the government has also focused on market access, with over 34,800 recognised startups now onboarded on the Government e-Marketplace platform, enabling them to compete for public procurement opportunities.
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