India has emerged as the world's third-largest startup ecosystem, with over 2.62 lakh DPIIT-recognised startups across the country. The government released the data on the occasion of National Entrepreneurship Day on Nov. 9, highlighting that nearly half of recognised startups came from Tier-II and Tier-III cities.
“With nearly half of recognised startups originating from Tier-II and Tier-III cities, alongside expanding rural entrepreneurship, India's ‘Amrit Peedhi' is increasingly transforming ideas into enterprises, strengthening livelihoods and contributing to inclusive economic growth,” the government announced in a press release.
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According to the data, India has emerged as the world's third-largest startup ecosystem, with over 2.62 lakh DPIIT-recognised startups as of November 2026, compared to fewer than 500 in 2014. Startups have created over 23 lakh jobs till March this year. The government also recognised more than 55,200 startups in 2025-26, the highest number in a single year since 2016. The number of startups recognised increased by 51.6% year-on-year in FY 2025-26 compared to FY 2024-25, while direct jobs created rose by 36.1% during the same period.
The data revealed that more than 1 lakh recognised startups having at least one woman director or partner.
“Notably, startups are present across all States and Union Territories. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Gujarat have emerged as leading regions in terms of the number of recognised startups and direct employment generation as of March 2026,” the press release noted.
Startup Initiatives
As per the government, several startup initiatives have been launched since 2014 to promote and support entrepreneurship in India. These include Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS), which channels funding through SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs). Similarly, the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS) facilitates collateral-free loans to eligible startups; Startup India Seed Fund Scheme, Startup India Hub, National Mentorship Portal (MAARG), among others.
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Another critical loan facility scheme, Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), is designed to help micro and small enterprises obtain loans of up to Rs 20 lakh without collateral. As of October 2026, PMMY had sanctioned 2.44 crore loans amounting to over Rs 3.3 lakh crore during FY 2026-27.
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