Published: November 09, 2026
StartupFeed Quick Take
- Startup India recognised more than 55,200 new startups in 2025-26, its highest in a single year since 2016.
- India stays the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, after the United States and China.
- More than 1 lakh recognised startups now have at least one woman director or partner.
India marked National Entrepreneurship Day on November 9 as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, with the government counting more than 2.62 lakh startups.
The day also marks the founding of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, set up on November 9, 2014.
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, or DPIIT, recognises these startups under the Startup India scheme. In 2025-26 it cleared more than 55,200 of them. That is the most in any year since the scheme began in 2016.
A year earlier the count was about 36,400. So recognition rose by 51.6% in a single year.
Where Startup India Stands in 2026
As of March 31, 2026, the government counted 2.23 lakh recognised startups and 23.36 lakh direct jobs from them. Direct jobs that year rose 36.1%.
The base kept climbing after that. By late October, DPIIT data put the total near 2.50 lakh startups and 25.42 lakh jobs.
Women are a bigger part of the story. More than 1 lakh recognised startups have at least one woman director or partner. That is close to half the base.
The government backs these firms through schemes like the Startup India Seed Fund and the Atal Innovation Mission. Both help early founders with money and mentoring.
| Measure | FY2024-25 | FY2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Startups recognised | 36,400+ | 55,200+ |
| Direct jobs created that year | 3.66 lakh | 4.99 lakh |
| Patents filed by startups | 2,850+ | 4,480+ |
What this means for you: If you run an early-stage startup in India, DPIIT recognition opens tax breaks, easier rules and scheme funding. Apply through the Startup India portal before you raise your next round.
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