National Startup Day 2025: Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday, commemorating the nine years of the government’s Startup India programme, launched the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge for entrepreneurs.
The Bharat Startup Grand Challenge will allow startups and innovators to address challenges in different sectors including renewable energy, agritech, healthcare, robotics, cleantech, blockchain, semiconductor, social commerce etc., in collaboration with 20 large corporates.
Bridging the gap between corporates and startups, the challenge would also offer procurement opportunities for startups, cash prizes, funding and mentoring opportunities along with capacity building measures.
The government aims to launch 75 challenges across different sectors by the 2026 anniversary of the Startup India programme in the country to drive innovation.
Goyal also launched the updated Prabhaav guide – a nine-year factbook on DPIIT’s Startup India programme reflecting the depth of India’s entrepreneurial journey, the rise of women entrepreneurs, and more.
Hailing the growth of India’s startup ecosystem, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday took to X to highlight the role of Indian startups in “solving global challenges while at the same time creating employment opportunities and boosting our quest towards self-reliance.”
PM Modi said Startup India has propelled India to become among the largest and most vibrant startup ecosystems. “This was when people doubted India’s ability to thrive in this system just a decade ago!”
Over the past nine years, the government said it has recognised 1.59 enterprises as startups under the Startup India initiative spanning 55 industries including agriculture, IT, biotech, fintech, education, and renewable energy. According to the government, startups recognised by DPIIT have created over 17.2 lakh direct jobs.
Declared by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022 to mark the Startup India initiative launched by the government on January 16, 2016, the National Startup Day underscores the growth of Indian startups over the past decade and more.