**Executive Summary**
This report summarizes the status of the Startup India initiative as of 31st January 2026, highlighting that over 1.02 lakh recognized startups feature at least one woman director or partner. It details the multi-stage funding support provided through flagship schemes—FFS, SISFS, and CGSS—to nurture innovation and investment. The document serves as a comprehensive update on startup recognition, closures, and the specific financial assistance allocated to women-led ventures.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Startup Recognition and Demographics**
* **Recognition Volume:** As of 31st January 2026, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has recognized a total of 2,12,283 startups.
* **Women’s Participation:** Approximately 48% of recognized startups (1,02,054 entities) have at least one woman director or partner.
* **Entity Status:** According to Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) data, 6,789 recognized startups are categorized as closed (dissolved or struck-off), of which 2,950 were women-led.
**Funding and Support Schemes**
* **Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS):**
* Operationalized by SIDBI to catalyze venture capital by investing in SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs).
* As of 31st January 2026, AIFs have invested approximately Rs. 25,859 crore in startups, with Rs. 2,995 crore specifically invested in women-led startups since 2020.
* **Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS):**
* Provides financial assistance to seed-stage startups through incubators (launched 1st April 2021).
* Approved funding reached Rs. 592 crore, with Rs. 294 crore (nearly 50%) allocated to women-led startups.
* **Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS):**
* Enables debt funding via the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC) Limited (launched 1st April 2023).
* Loans amounting to Rs. 925 crore have been guaranteed, with Rs. 39 crore designated for women-led startups.
**Regional and Historical Trends**
* **Geographic Distribution:** Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh show high concentrations of women-led startups.
* **Growth Trends:** Year-on-year data from 2017 to 2026 indicates a steady increase in the recognition of startups with women in leadership roles across most States and Union Territories.
**Impact Analysis**
**Women Entrepreneurs**
**Impact**
They benefit from targeted financial support and increased representation, receiving a significant portion of seed funding and venture capital through government schemes.
**Action Required**
Continue to utilize available flagship schemes (FFS, SISFS, CGSS) to secure funding and maintain compliance with DPIIT recognition standards.
**Incubators and Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs)**
**Impact**
These entities act as the primary vehicles for distributing government capital and credit guarantees to innovation-led startups.
**Action Required**
Ensure the efficient appraisal of startup applications and prioritize the disbursement of approved funds to eligible startups, including women-led entities.
**Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) and DPIIT**
**Impact**
Responsible for the cumulative tracking of startup statuses (active vs. closed) and the formal recognition of new entities.
**Action Required**
Maintain accurate, up-to-date databases regarding the status of startups and the demographic composition of their leadership to inform future policy.
**Financial Institutions (Lenders)**
**Impact**
Eligible institutions are empowered to provide debt funding to startups with reduced risk due to government-backed credit guarantees.
**Action Required**
Facilitate loan approvals for startup borrowers under the CGSS framework and report disbursement figures to the NCGTC.
Key Entities Referenced
Startup India initiative: A flagship government program launched to build a strong ecosystem for innovation, startups, and encouraging investments in the country.
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT): The nodal government department responsible for the official recognition and registration of startups.
Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS): A scheme established to catalyze venture capital investments by providing capital to SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) that invest in startups.
Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS): A financial assistance program providing funding to seed-stage startups through incubators for prototype development and product trials.
Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS): A scheme implemented to enable debt funding for startups by providing credit guarantees to eligible financial institutions.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Over 1 Lakh Startups have at Least One-Woman
Director/Partner Among 2.12 Lakh Recognised
by DPIIT
Government Strengthens Startup Ecosystem with Multi-Stage
Funding and Support Schemes
Posted On: 17 MAR 2026 5:09PM by PIB Delhi
Startup India initiative was launched on 16th January 2016, with an intent to build a strong ecosystem for
nurturing innovation, startups and encouraging investments in the startup ecosystem of the country.
As on 31st January 2026, a total of 2,12,283 entities have been recognised as startups by the Department
for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). Of the total entities recognised as startups, 1,02,054
entities have at least one-woman director/partner.
As on 31st January 2026, a total of 2,12,283 entities have been recognised as startups by DPIIT. The data
with respect to status of entities (active, dissolved, struck-off, etc.) is maintained by the Ministry of
Corporate Affairs (MCA) on a cumulative basis. As per the MCA, 6,789 recognised startups are
categorized as closed (i.e., dissolved/struck-off). Of the total number of entities which are categorized as
closed (i.e., dissolved/struck-off), 2,950 have at least one-woman director/partner.
Under the Startup India initiative, the Government is implementing flagship Schemes such as Fund of
Funds for Startups (FFS), Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) and Credit Guarantee Scheme for
Startups (CGSS) to support startups across categories at various stages of their business cycle.
FFS has been established to catalyse venture capital investments and is operationalized by Small
Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), which provides capital to Securities and Exchange Board
of India (SEBI)-registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) which in turn invest in startups. As on
31st January 2026, supported AIFs under the Scheme have invested around Rs. 25,859 crore in selected
startups. Further, from 2020 onwards, around Rs. 2,995 crore have been invested in women-led startups by
AIFs under the Scheme, as on 31st January 2026.
SISFS provides financial assistance to seed stage startups through incubators. SISFS is implemented from
1st April 2021. As on 31st January 2026, selected incubators under the Scheme have approved funding of
around Rs. 592 crore to selected startups, of which funds of around Rs. 294 crore have been approved to
women-led startups.
CGSS is implemented for enabling debt funding to startups through eligible financial institutions. CGSS is
operationalized by the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC) Limited and has been
operationalized from 1st April 2023. As on 31st January 2026, loans amounting to around Rs 925 crore
have been guaranteed to startup borrowers, of which loans amounting to around Rs 39 crore have been
guaranteed to women-led startups.The total number of startups selected and the total number of startups that are categorized as closed (i.e.,
dissolved/struck-off) as per the MCA, under the Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS), Startup India Seed
Fund Scheme (SISFS), and Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS) are as follows:
Scheme No. of startups selected for No. of startups supported which are
categorized as closed (i.e.,
support under the Scheme as on 31st
dissolved/struck-off) as per the
January 2026
MCA.
FFS 1,382 17
SISFS 3,311 26
CGSS 281 1
This information was given by Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Shri Jitin Prasada in
Lok Sabha today.
***
ANNEXURE-I
The State/UT-wise and year-wise number of entities recognized as startups that have at least one-woman
director/partner, as on 31st January 2026, are as under:
State/UT 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
Andaman and 1 1 4 2 5 4 3 10 8 2
Nicobar Islands
Andhra Pradesh 37 85 92 102 137 173 294 313 670 59
Arunachal - - - - 4 5 8 5 16 -
Pradesh
Assam 8 28 30 53 83 122 168 170 216 24
Bihar 23 53 59 114 183 257 384 417 600 63
Chandigarh 8 10 21 27 38 36 64 49 57 4
Chhattisgarh 18 55 69 54 82 91 148 218 230 25
Dadra and Nagar 1 1 3 4 7 6 12 12 1
Haveli and
Daman and DiuState/UT 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
Delhi 240 568 671 834 1197 1283 1607 1471 1911 166
Goa 13 24 22 27 41 49 40 64 86 5
Gujarat 108 217 313 365 800 944 1431 1568 1845 184
Haryana 98 233 360 375 532 674 893 888 1250 116
Himachal 1 6 14 12 23 56 65 74 83 12
Pradesh
Jammu and 2 14 12 23 40 71 82 111 150 20
Kashmir
Jharkhand 16 35 37 85 89 108 172 151 207 22
Karnataka 298 536 807 757 1065 1242 1500 1629 2219 196
Kerala 49 112 267 249 398 431 534 506 736 81
Ladakh - - - 1 - 1 3 2 1 -
Lakshadweep - - - 1 - - - - - -
Madhya Pradesh 32 123 150 173 264 421 622 616 846 121
Maharashtra 388 839 1110 1305 1937 2412 2913 3043 4043 386
Manipur 3 1 1 5 21 13 7 22 42 4
Meghalaya - 1 5 - 5 5 6 11 12 -
Mizoram - - - 1 1 3 6 6 6 -
Nagaland 1 1 1 3 4 3 13 21 15 -
Odisha 40 80 90 126 196 230 329 296 409 40
Puducherry 2 7 6 3 7 11 21 13 28 5
Punjab 9 35 54 72 125 147 226 219 268 31State/UT 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
Rajasthan 53 114 192 205 301 458 691 657 906 87
Sikkim - - - 1 - 2 1 - 3 -
Tamil Nadu 105 221 318 378 591 922 1333 1341 1674 159
Telangana 134 232 306 390 520 723 919 933 1619 146
Tripura - 1 4 10 4 13 8 20 17 4
Uttar Pradesh 174 364 449 662 1065 1303 1788 1842 2525 301
Uttarakhand 11 27 57 53 77 121 125 131 204 16
West Bengal 72 142 158 199 360 527 622 585 804 83
Total 1945 4165 5680 6670 10199 12868 17032 17414 23718 2363
ANNEXURE-II
The State/UT-wise details of the total number of entities which are categorized as closed (i.e.,
dissolved/struck-off) as per the MCA with at least one woman director/partner are as follows:
State/UT No. of entities which are categorized as closed (i.e.,
dissolved/struck-off) with at least one woman director/partner
Andhra Pradesh 48
Assam 25
Bihar 36
Chandigarh 12
Chhattisgarh 28
Delhi 324
Goa 14
Gujarat 156Haryana 133
Himachal Pradesh 7
Jammu and Kashmir 16
Jharkhand 24
Karnataka 384
Kerala 97
Madhya Pradesh 81
Maharashtra 586
Manipur 4
Meghalaya 1
Mizoram 1
Nagaland 2
Odisha 49
Puducherry 6
Punjab 29
Rajasthan 95
Tamil Nadu 173
Telangana 176
Tripura 5
Uttar Pradesh 303
Uttarakhand 19
West Bengal 116Total 2950
ANNEXURE-III
The year-wise details of funds invested in startups by AIFs supported under the FFS, as on 31st January
2026, are as under:
Year Amount invested by selected Amount invested by selected AIFs in
AIFs in startups (in Rs. crore) women-led startups (in Rs. crore)*
2017 343.52 -
2018 676.84 -
2019 1623.56 -
2020 2066.89 333.96
2021 3491.10 576.14
2022 5973.40 430.72
2023 3292.10 57.24
2024 3809.20 616.82
2025 4271.60 914.47
2026 311.40 65.79
*Note: Data on investment in women-led startups is available from 2020.
ANNEXURE-IV
The year-wise details of funds approved to startups by incubators selected under the SISFS, as on 31st
January 2026, are as under:
Year Amount approved to startups by Amount approved to women-led
selected incubators (in Rs. crore) startups by selected incubators (in Rs.
crore)
2021 27.59 14.05
2022 111.78 53.74
2023 175.98 87.432024 165.83 84.22
2025 110.04 54.52
2026 0.9 0.79
ANNEXURE-V
The year-wise details of loans guaranteed to startups under the CGSS, as on 31st January 2026, are as
under:
Year Amount of loans guaranteed to Amount of loans guaranteed to
startups (in Rs. crore) women-led startups (in Rs. crore)
2023 220.78 13.6
2024 381.08 13.44
2025 206.32 10.18
2026 117.72 2
***
Abhishek Dayal/Garima Singh/Anushka Pandey
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