**Executive Summary**
This document is the response to Unstarred Question No. 1639 in the Lok Sabha, concerning registered startups and addressed to the Minister of Commerce and Industry, to be answered on February 10th, 2026. It provides data on startup recognition and investments under the Startup India initiative. The report includes statistics up to December 31st, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Startup Recognition:**
* Entities are recognized as startups based on eligibility conditions of G.S.R. notification 127 (E) dated February 19, 2019 under the Startup India Initiative.
* In 2025, 49,429 entities were recognized as startups, marking the highest annual recognition since the initiative's launch.
* As of December 31, 2025, 2,07,135 entities have been recognized as startups under the Startup India initiative.
* **Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS):**
* FFS was established to promote venture capital investments, operated through SIDBI.
* SIDBI provides capital to SEBI-registered AIFs, which invest in startups via equity and equity-linked instruments.
* By December 31, 2025, supported AIFs invested Rs. 25,547.98 crore in 1,371 startups.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Startups:**
**Impact:** Recognition under the Startup India initiative provides eligibility for various benefits and support.
**Action Required:** Comply with G.S.R. notification 127 (E) dated February 19, 2019 to maintain startup status.
* **Investors (AIFs):**
**Impact:** Access to capital through SIDBI to facilitate investments in startups.
**Action Required:** Continue investments in startups through equity and equity-linked instruments.
* **Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI):**
**Impact:** Key role in operationalizing the FFS and channeling investments.
**Action Required:** Continue providing capital to SEBI-registered AIFs.
* **Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI):**
**Impact:** Oversight of AIFs that are participating in startup funding.
**Action Required:** Maintain regulatory oversight of AIFs participating in startup funding.
Key Entities Referenced
Startup India initiative: Government initiative to support startups in India.
Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS): Scheme to catalyze venture capital investments in startups.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry: The ministry responsible for policies related to commerce and industry.
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT): Department within the Ministry of Commerce & Industry implementing the Startup India initiative.
Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI): Operationalizes Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS).
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
DEPARTMENT FOR PROMOTION OF INDUSTRY AND INTERNAL TRADE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1639.
TO BE ANSWERED ON TUESDAY, THE 10TH FEBRUARY, 2026.
REGISTERED STARTUPS
1639. SHRI V K SREEKANDAN:
Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state:
वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री
(a) whether it is a fact that nearly 44,000 startups registered with the Government
in 2025;
(b) whether it is also true that this was the highest annual spike since the launch of
Startup in the country;
(c) whether it is also true that the Startups in the country have grown to over
2,00,000 in the country;
(d) whether it is also a fact that more than Rs. 25,000 crore has been invested
through the Fund of Funds for startups that had been created; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री (श्री णिणिन प्रसाद)
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
(SHRI JITIN PRASADA)
(a) & (b): As per eligibility conditions prescribed under G.S.R. notification 127 (E) dated
19th February 2019, entities are recognised as ‘startups’ under the Startup
India initiative by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
(DPIIT).
In 2025, a total of 49,429 entities were recognized as startups, the highest
during a year since the launch of the Startup India initiative.
(c): As on 31st December 2025, a total of 2,07,135 entities have been recognised
as startups under the Startup India initiative by DPIIT.
(d) & (e): The Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) has been established to catalyze venture
capital investments and is operationalized through 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 through equity and equity-linked
instruments. As on 31st December 2025, supported AIFs under the Scheme
have invested Rs. 25,547.98 crore in 1,371 selected startups.
*****