Ministry of Commerce & Industry marks 9 years of Startup India Initiative

The Ministry of Commerce & Industry is celebrating the 9th anniversary of the Startup India Initiative, which was launched in 2016 as a flagship program by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).

Key Features of the Startup India Initiative
Objective: To promote startup culture and create a robust and inclusive ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship in India.

Core Features:

• Ease of Doing Business: Simplified compliance procedures, self-certification, and single-window clearances.
• Tax Benefits: Tax exemptions for three consecutive financial years.
• Funding Support: The ₹10,000 crore Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) supports early-stage funding.
• Sector-Specific Policies: Tailored policies for sectors such as biotechnology, agriculture, and renewable energy.

Flagship Schemes under Startup India

• Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS): A four-year program that supports startups in areas like proof of concept, prototype development, and commercialization.
• Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS): Provides credit guarantees for loans offered to eligible startups.
• FFS Scheme: Aimed at improving access to domestic capital for Indian startups.

Key Achievements

• Increase in Startups: The number of DPIIT-recognized startups grew from 500 in 2016 to 1.59 lakh in 2025.
• Startup Ecosystem: India has become the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world, with over 100 unicorns.
• Employment Generation: Over 16.6 lakh direct jobs have been created as of October 31, 2024.
• Women Empowerment: 73,151 recognized startups have at least one woman director.

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