National Startup Day, observed on 16 January 2026, marks a landmark decade of the Startup India Initiative, a flagship programme that has transformed India’s entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem. Anchored by Startup India, the movement has emerged as a key driver of economic transformation, innovation, and inclusive development.
About the Startup India Initiative
- Launched: 2016
- Nodal Department: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)
- Ministry: Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Startup India has become the cornerstone of India’s startup ecosystem, providing policy support, funding access, and an enabling regulatory environment.
India’s Expanding Startup Ecosystem
- India has emerged as one of the world’s largest startup ecosystems
- Over 2 lakh startups registered as of December 2025
- Major startup hubs include:
- Bengaluru
- Hyderabad
- Mumbai
- Delhi-NCR
Notably, around 50% of startups originate from Tier II and Tier III cities, reflecting the democratisation of entrepreneurship beyond metropolitan centres.
Key Financial Support Mechanisms
Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS)
- Flagship initiative under the Startup India Action Plan
- Corpus: ₹10,000 crore
- Managed by: Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)
- Supports SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), which invest in startups
- Objective: Expand access to domestic risk capital
Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS)
- Enables collateral-free loans to startups
- Implemented through eligible financial institutions
- Aimed at easing credit constraints for early-stage ventures
Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS)
- Corpus: ₹945 crore
- Provides financial assistance to early-stage startups for proof of concept, prototype development, and market entry
Innovation and Incubation Ecosystem
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)
- Launched: 2016
- Implementing body: NITI Aayog
- Promotes a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across schools, universities, research institutions, startups, and industry
GENESIS Initiative
- Launched: July 2022
- A National Deep-tech Startup Platform
- Anchored in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
TIDE 2.0 Scheme
- Launched: 2019
- Implemented by MeitY
- Focuses on ICT-based startups using emerging technologies such as:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Internet of Things (IoT)
- Blockchain
- Robotics
NIDHI Programme
- Launched: 2016
- Implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST)
- Acts as an umbrella programme to nurture knowledge-based and technology-driven innovations into startups
Promoting Rural Entrepreneurship
Startup Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP)
- Implemented in May 2015
- A sub-scheme under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM)
- Aims to promote rural entrepreneurship by enabling households to set up and scale local enterprises
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