India is now residence to greater than 2 lakh government-recognised startups, with over 44,000 entities added this yr alone, the best annual addition for the reason that launch of the Startup India initiative in 2016, Union Commerce and Business Minister Piyush Goyal mentioned on Friday.

Sharing the replace in a publish on X, Goyal highlighted the sector’s rising contribution to employment, innovation and inclusive financial growth.

“What makes this success sweeter is that just about 48% of those startups have at the least one lady director/associate. These startups have additionally helped generate over 21 lakh direct jobs,” he mentioned.

An unbelievable milestone to wrap up 2025!

India is now residence to over 2 lakh government-recognised startups, with over 44,000 entities recognised this yr alone, the best in a yr for the reason that inception of the @StartupIndia initiative.

What makes this success sweeter is that… pic.twitter.com/5p6aHh16Uk

— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) December 12, 2025

The rising participation of ladies entrepreneurs has emerged as a notable function of this development. Practically half of all recognised startups now embody at the least one lady director or associate.

Authorities-backed funding and credit score assist schemes have performed a central function in sustaining the momentum. Underneath the Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS), Different Funding Funds have invested over Rs 25,320 crore throughout greater than 1,350 startups, serving to crowd in personal enterprise capital. The Credit score Assure Scheme for Startups has prolonged over Rs 775 crore in ensures, easing entry to debt for early-stage corporations.

Early-stage funding assist has additionally expanded via the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS). Greater than Rs 585 crore has been authorized for over 3,200 startup functions via incubators, offering capital for proof-of-concept growth, market entry and preliminary scaling.

Past funding, recognised startups have more and more engaged with authorities platforms and innovation pipelines. They’ve filed over 16,400 patent functions, pointing to an increase in formal mental property creation. Greater than 34,800 startups have additionally been onboarded on the Authorities e-Market (GeM), enabling entry to public procurement alternatives. Underneath the Startup India framework, eligible startups also can avail incentives resembling earnings tax aid, alongside regulatory easing, mentorship and networking assist.

The surge in recognised startups aligns with the federal government’s broader push in the direction of constructing an Aatmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat economic system.

“As we put together to enter a brand new yr, this spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship will proceed to drive development, alternatives and prosperity for all,” Goyal mentioned.