India's startup ecosystem has crossed a major milestone, with over 2 lakh government-recognised startups, including 44,000 new startups, in 2025, the highest annual increase since the launch of the Startup India initiative in 2016, said Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.

This growth reflects a more inclusive ecosystem, with nearly 48% of recognised startups having at least one woman founder or director, while startups overall have created over 21 lakh direct jobs, strengthening their role in job creation and innovation.

As India moves towards a self-reliant and developed economy, strong policy support, including key financing through Funds of Funds, seed and credit schemes for startups, increasing patent filings, and wider access to government procurement, has supported this momentum.