Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change addresses concerns regarding financial and technical support for eco-friendly innovations. The Ecomark Rules, 2024, were notified on September 26, 2024, replacing the 1991 scheme to strengthen the institutional structure and implementation of Ecomark Rules, and the Startup India initiative, launched on January 16, 2016, supports startups through various schemes and programs. As of January 31, 2025, 3,362 entities in the Green Technology industry have been recognized as startups.
Key Points / Main Content:
Ecomark Rules 2024:
* Replaced the Ecomark Scheme of 1991 on September 26, 2024.
* Aims to strengthen the institutional structure and implementation of Ecomark Rules.
* Encourages demand for environment-friendly products.
* Promotes lower energy consumption, resource efficiency, and circular economy.
* Seeks to ensure accurate labeling and prevent misleading information on green products.
* Aligns with Mission LiFE, promoting environmentally conscious purchasing choices and sustainable living.
* Are voluntary, intending to encourage manufacturers for production of environment-friendly products and promote green industries.
Startup India Initiative:
* Launched on January 16, 2016, by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
* Intends to build a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation, startups, and encouraging investments.
* Supports startups through schemes like Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS), Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS), and Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS).
* Implements programs like States Startup Ranking, National Startup Awards, and Innovation Week.
* Encourages ecosystem-led initiatives like Startup Mahakumbh.
* Improves market access and enables public procurement to support startups.
* Utilizes digital platforms like the Startup India portal and BHASKAR for resource access and collaboration.
* As of January 31, 2025, 161,150 entities have been recognized as startups by DPIIT, including 3,362 in the Green Technology industry.
Impact Analysis:
Manufacturers:
* Impact: Encouraged to produce environment-friendly products and adopt green industry practices.
* Action Required: Voluntarily comply with Ecomark Rules to produce environment-friendly products.
Consumers:
* Impact: Empowered to make environmentally informed purchasing choices.
* Action Required: Seek out Ecomark-labeled products.
Startups:
* Impact: Benefit from financial support, ecosystem development, and improved market access.
* Action Required: Utilize available schemes and platforms under the Startup India initiative.
Government:
* Impact: Responsible for implementing and monitoring the Ecomark Rules and Startup India initiative.
* Action Required: Continue supporting and developing the startup ecosystem through various schemes and programs.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The Indian government ministry responsible for environmental protection and climate change policies.
Ecomark Rules, 2024: A set of rules notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in 2024 to encourage environment-friendly products and replace the Ecomark Scheme of 1991.
Mission LiFE: An initiative promoting environmentally conscious lifestyles and sustainable living.
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade DPIIT: A department under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry responsible for promoting industry and internal trade in India.
Startup India: An initiative launched by the Indian government to build a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation and startups.
Fund of Funds for Startups FFS: A scheme under Startup India to provide funding support to startups.
Startup India Seed Fund Scheme SISFS: A scheme under Startup India to provide seed funding to startups.
Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups CGSS: A scheme under Startup India to provide credit guarantee to startups.
OIH
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3473
TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.08.2025
Funds for Eco-friendly Innovations
3473. SHRI CHHOTELAL:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that many industries and startups want to do eco-friendly
innovations but face lack of financial support and technical resources; and
(b) if so, the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government so far to promote eco-friendly
innovations and green technologies?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE
CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) and (b). Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified Ecomark Rules,
2024 on 26th September 2024 which have replaced the Ecomark Scheme of 1991 with aim
to strengthen the institutional structure and implementation of Ecomark Rules.
The objective of the rules is to encourage the demand for environment-friendly products,
promote lower energy consumption, resource efficiency and circular economy. These rules
seek to ensure accurate labelling and prevent misleading information on green products.
Ecomark aligns with the Mission ‘LiFE’ enabling individuals to be environmentally
informed and conscious in making purchasing choices promoting recycling, use of
environmental friendly products, incentivizing manufacturers to adopt green industry
practices, and thus contributing to sustainable living.
Ecomark Rules are voluntary and intend to encourage manufacturers for production of
environment friendly products, and promote green industries.
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce
and Industry launched the Startup India initiative on 16th January 2016, with an intent tobuild a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation, startups and encouraging investments
in the startup ecosystem of the country.
Under Startup India initiative, the Government constantly undertakes various efforts for
the development and growth of startup ecosystem across industries and sectors. The
flagship Schemes namely, Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS), Startup India Seed Fund
Scheme (SISFS) and Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS) support startups at
various stages of their business cycle. The Government also implements periodic exercises
and programs including States’ Startup Ranking, National Startup Awards, and Innovation
Week which play an important role in the holistic development of the startup ecosystem.
Government also encourages and support ecosystem led initiatives as Startup Mahakumbh
which serve as a vibrant platform for stakeholders to network and collaborate. Initiatives
to improve market access and enable public procurement support startups in growing and
scaling up their businesses have also been undertaken.
Digital platforms such as the Startup India portal and BHASKAR enable easy access to
resources and startup ecosystem collaboration. These measures are complemented by
regulatory reforms and other ecosystem development events and programs.
Sustained efforts by the Government under the Startup India initiative have led to an
increase in the number of entities which have been recognised startups by DPIIT to
1,61,150 as on 31st January 2025 across multiple industries and sectors. Specifically, 3,362
entities have been recognised as startups in the “Green Technology” industry as on 31st
January 2025.
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