National Startup Day: Analysing "Startup India's" Nine Years Through Numbers

National Startup Day: Analysing "Startup India's" Nine Years Through Numbers
National Startup Day: A Nine-Year Journey of "Startup India" in Numbers

This year, India marks nine years of Startup India, a transformative journey that began in 2016. National Startup Day honours how entrepreneurs and startups are reshaping economies and societies. It celebrates creativity, tenacity, and innovation while emphasising the role that entrepreneurs play in advancing technology and environmentally friendly solutions. The day also highlights how crucial it is to create an environment that supports audacious ideas and gives business owners the confidence to question the status quo and create the future.  

What DPIIT’s Official Data Reveals?

As of January 15, 2025, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) had recognised over 1.59 lakh firms, solidifying India's position as the world's third-largest startup ecosystem. Over 100 unicorns power this thriving ecosystem, which is redefining entrepreneurship and innovation globally. This change has been driven by major cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi-NCR, but smaller cities have also been making a greater contribution to the country's entrepreneurial spirit.

Fintech, edtech, healthtech, and e-commerce startups have overcome regional obstacles and achieved international acclaim. India's transition from job seekers to employment creators is exemplified by companies like Zomato, Nykaa, and Ola, which propel economic growth.

The Main Pockets of Startup Sector

According to DPIIT data, non-metropolitan areas account for more than half (51%) of India's DPIIT-registered companies. An encouraging indication of India's entrepreneurial potential is the growing number of businesses originating from non-metropolitan areas. Cities such as Jaipur, Indore, Coimbatore, Vadodara, and Surat provide entrepreneurs with affordable talent and growth prospects. In the meanwhile, companies receive substantial help from government-led incubator programs like Telangana's T-Hub, which unlocks trillions of dollars in value and transforms India's entrepreneurial scene. From 2014 to 2024, all of these emerging businesses have raised about $158 billion in capital.

Jobs Generation

By creating more than 16.6 lakh direct jobs in a variety of industries as of October 31, 2024, DPIIT-recognised startups have made a substantial contribution to the creation of jobs. With 2.04 lakh jobs, the IT services sector is the largest, followed by healthcare and life sciences (1.47 lakh) and professional and commercial services (about 94,000). These contributions demonstrate how startups propel economic expansion and generate a wide range of job possibilities across sectors.


Bengaluru Startups Create Over 1.63 Lakh Jobs: DPIIT Report
DPIIT-recognised startups in Bengaluru have created over 1.63 lakh jobs, showcasing the city’s thriving startup ecosystem and employment opportunities.

Initiatives Launch by the Government

A number of flagship programs have been introduced by the Startup India initiative to offer entrepreneurs all-encompassing assistance at various phases of their development. In order to ensure the expansion and viability of startups, these programs seek to solve important issues like funding, market access, and credit guarantees.

Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS)

With a capital of INR 945 crore, SISFS was established with the goal of giving entrepreneurs financial support for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry, and commercialisation during a four-year period beginning in 2021–2022. This would allow these firms to advance to a point where they can look for loans from commercial banks or other financial institutions, or raise money from venture capitalists or angel investors.

Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS)

The goal of the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS) is to offer a credit guarantee up to a predetermined amount against loans made by Member Institutions (MIs) to finance qualified borrowers, or startups, as defined in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade's (DPIIT) periodically amended Gazette Notification.

Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) Scheme

In accordance with the Start-up India Action Plan, the Prime Minister introduced FFS on January 16, 2016. A corpus of INR 10,000 crore has been granted for contributions to different Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) that are SEBI-registered. FFS was established with the specific goal of assisting the growth and development of innovation-driven businesses. It does this by facilitating start-ups' finance needs through participation in SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Fund funds.

Sates Realising the Power of Startups

The push for local entrepreneurs by the federal and state governments goes well beyond statistics and lofty discourse. A growing number of states increasingly see startups as a means of boosting demand and creating jobs. In 2016, for example, only four states had specific startup policies. This figure, which has now increased to 31 states and union territories (UTs), provides insight into how startups have gained popularity with influential decision-makers and oversight organisations. In addition to promoting policies, the Centre has onboarded numerous startups on sites such as the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) to expedite its procurement process and provide them with a platform to market their products directly to customers without the need for intermediaries. According to the DPIIT, as of October 2024, 27,208 of the 1.59 lakh certified firms had listed on GeM and fulfilled 3.53 lakh orders of INR 30,825 Cr.

BHASKAR: Strengthening the Startup Ecosystem in India

The Bharat Startup Knowledge Access Registry (BHASKAR) platform was introduced by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) in September 2024, in addition to the previously listed programs. The goal of this innovative project, which is a component of Startup India, is to centralise and simplify interactions within the Indian entrepreneurial ecosystem. In line with India's goal of becoming a global leader in entrepreneurship, BHASKAR seeks to promote innovation, cooperation, and growth by bringing together startups, investors, mentors, service providers, and governmental organisations.

Startup Mahakumbh: Promoting Creativity

As a premier event, the Startup Mahakumbh unites investors, industry leaders, ecosystem players, startups, unicorns, and soonicorns. It promotes discussion to fortify the country's startup ecosystem while showcasing India's technological potential and entrepreneurial spirit.

With over 1,300 exhibitors spread across ten themed pavilions, the inaugural event in 2024 set an impressive example. Attracting a remarkable number of over 48,000 business travellers, it developed into a flourishing centre for innovative concepts and significant collaborations. With the theme "Startup India @ 2047—Unfolding the Bharat Story," the second edition, which is slated to take place at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from April 3–5, 2025, is expected to surpass expectations. As India moves closer to being a global centre of innovation by 2047, this ambitious theme seeks to examine the future of the startup ecosystem in that country.

As India commemorates the ninth anniversary of the Startup India initiative, the nation's entrepreneurial scene has seen a notable transition. With more than 1.59 lakh businesses recognised by DPIIT and an expanding workforce, India has solidified its position as a global centre for entrepreneurship and innovation. Through flagship programs, capacity-building initiatives, platforms like BHASKAR, and events like Startup Mahakumbh, the initiative has empowered companies in non-metropolitan areas as well as other sectors. An inclusive and dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem is fostered by the Startup India program, which continues to be a major driver of economic growth as India moves closer to becoming a global leader in innovation.


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