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Government New Delhi, Delhi Est. 1995

Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)

India's central government body running Startup India, having recognized 1,97,000+ startups nationwide.

197,692+ startups supported 3 programs listed

About Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)

DPIIT is a department under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, established in 1995 and renamed from DIPP in 2019. It is responsible for the Startup India initiative , India's flagship national startup program launched in 2016 , and has recognized over 1,97,692 startups across the country as of October 2025. DPIIT is the single most important central government body for India's startup ecosystem.

### Role in the Startup Ecosystem

DPIIT runs Startup India, which provides the national framework for startup recognition, tax benefits, regulatory simplifications, and funding support. A DPIIT-recognized startup gets access to income tax exemptions under Section 80-IAC, self-certification for labour and environmental laws, fast-tracked patent applications at reduced fees, and eligibility for the Fund of Funds for Startups managed by SIDBI. DPIIT recognition has become the foundational credential for Indian startups , most state-level incentive programs now require or prefer it.

### Programs and Initiatives

Key programs include the Startup India Recognition scheme, the Fund of Funds for Startups (Rs. 10,000 crore corpus deployed through 120+ SEBI-registered AIFs), the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (up to Rs. 50 lakh through eligible incubators), and the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (collateral-free debt up to Rs. 10 crore). DPIIT also runs the Startup India Hub as a mentorship and resource centre, publishes the annual State Startup Ranking that drives competition among states, and manages the National Startup Awards recognizing innovative startups and ecosystem builders.

### Who Benefits

Every Indian startup benefits from DPIIT's ecosystem. Recognition is open to any entity incorporated as a private limited company, partnership firm, or LLP, that is less than 10 years old and has annual turnover below Rs. 100 crore. The Fund of Funds has catalyzed billions in private venture capital by investing as an anchor LP in domestic VC funds. The Seed Fund Scheme provides critical early capital to startups through a network of approved incubators across India.

### Strategic Impact

DPIIT has fundamentally transformed India's startup landscape since launching Startup India in 2016. The growth from a few thousand recognized startups to nearly 2 lakh in under a decade reflects the scale of its impact. By creating a national framework for startup recognition, simplifying regulations, and deploying public capital through structured channels, DPIIT has built the institutional foundation that India's entire startup ecosystem operates upon. The annual State Startup Ranking has also catalyzed a competitive race among state governments to improve their own startup policies.

Who they work with

Stages
Idea MVP / Prototype Early Revenue Growth
Sectors
Agritech & Food Fintech Biotech, Health & Pharma Deeptech & Robotics AI, SaaS & Enterprise Consumer & D2C Climate, Energy & EV Edtech & Skilling Logistics & Mobility Social Impact Space, Drones & Defence Gaming, Media & Web3

Programs by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) 3

Closed Grant

Green Energy & Climate Action Challenge under Bharat Startup Grand Challenge

by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)

FundingUp to Rs. 5 lakh
Equity-free Idea MVP / Prototype

The Green Energy & Climate Action Challenge is launched under the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge to accelerate innovative solutions that support Bharat's green and sustainable transition. The initiative focuses on transforming ideas into scalable solutions across renewable and decentralized energy, waste-to-energy and circular technologies, and energy storage, carbon, and ESG technology. The challenge aims to address critical gaps in clean energy access, circular economy adoption, and climate

ClosesClosed
Closed Grant

BluePrint Startup Funding & Incubation Program

by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)

FundingSupport amount varies
Equity-free Idea MVP / Prototype

BluePrint is a national startup funding and incubation platform designed to support founders from the ideation stage through Series A readiness. Launched as a flagship initiative under Synapse 2026, the annual management fest of N. L. Dalmia Institute of Management Studies and Research, the program is built to help founders develop ventures with clarity, credibility, and long-term scalability. The initiative is powered by Venture Catalysts++, India's first integrated multi-stage venture

ClosesClosed

Frequently asked questions

What funding programs does Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) run?

Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) currently has 3 programs listed in this directory, including Green Energy & Climate Action Challenge under Bharat Startup Grand Challenge, BluePrint Startup Funding & Incubation Program, Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) For Startups. Each program page covers the funding amount, eligibility and application process.

Is Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) a government organisation?

Yes. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is listed under the government category. Its programs follow official government processes, and applications are submitted through official channels in your own name.

How do I evaluate whether a Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) program fits my startup?

Start with the stages and sectors shown on this profile, then open the program pages for eligibility conditions and document checklists. If you want a structured view, send an enquiry below and an IncorpX advisor will walk you through fit and readiness.

Do I apply to these programs through IncorpX?

No. Applications are always submitted in your own name with the respective program authority. IncorpX is independent of Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and provides assistance for application preparation, document organisation and prerequisite registrations such as incorporation, DPIIT recognition, MSME and GST.

Enquire about Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)

Tell us what you are building and which Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) program you are evaluating. An IncorpX advisor will help you assess fit and get application-ready.

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Your enquiry goes to the IncorpX advisory team, who will help you evaluate fit and prepare. We are independent of Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and never contact organisations on your behalf.

Important disclaimer

IncorpX is a private platform operated by a private company. It is not a government department, agency or official portal, and it is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government body or of any organisation, incubator, accelerator, investor or partner listed in this directory. All program names, logos and trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are used for identification only.

This directory is compiled from publicly available official sources and is provided for general information only. It does not constitute legal, financial, tax or professional advice. Funding amounts, eligibility criteria, required documents, deadlines and availability are determined by each program authority and change with every cycle, so the details shown here may be incomplete or out of date. Always confirm the current terms on the official program source before you apply or take any decision.

IncorpX charges no fee for the information in this directory and does not collect, process, lodge or submit any application on your behalf. Applications are made by you, in your own name, directly with the respective program authority. IncorpX provides assistance only for application preparation and for related registrations such as company incorporation, DPIIT recognition, MSME (Udyam) and GST. Eligibility, approval, disbursement and selection rest solely with the respective program authority, and IncorpX makes no representation or guarantee as to any outcome.

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