Over 1 Lakh Startups have at Least One-Woman Director/Partner Among 2.12 Lakh Recognised by DPIIT

Government Strengthens Startup Ecosystem with Multi-Stage Funding and Support Schemes Startup India initiative was launched on 16th January 2016, with an intent to build a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation, startups and encouraging investments in the startup ecosystem of the country. As on 31st January 2026, a total of 2,12,283 entities have been recognised as startups by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). Of the total entities recognised as startups, 1,02,054 entities have at least one-woman director/partner. As on 31st January 2026, a total of 2,12,283 entities have been recognised as startups by DPIIT. The data with respect to status of entities (active, dissolved, struck-off, etc.) is maintained by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) on a cumulative basis. As per the MCA, 6,789 recognised startups are categorized as closed (i.e., dissolved/struck-off). Of the total number of entities which are categorized as closed (i.e., dissolved/struck-off), 2,950 have at least one-woman director/partner. Under the Startup India initiative, the Government is implementing flagship Schemes such as Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS), Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) and Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS) to support startups across categories at various stages of their business cycle. FFS has been established to catalyse venture capital investments and is operationalized by 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. As on 31st January 2026, supported AIFs under the Scheme have invested around Rs. 25,859 crore in selected startups. Further, from 2020 onwards, around Rs. 2,995 crore have been invested in women-led startups by AIFs under the Scheme, as on 31 st January 2026. SISFS provides financial assistance to seed stage startups through incubators. SISFS is implemented from 1st April 2021. As on 31st January 2026, selected incubators under the Scheme have approved funding of around Rs. 592 crore to selected startups, of which funds of around Rs. 294 crore have been approved to women-led startups. CGSS is implemented for enabling debt funding to startups through eligible financial institutions. CGSS is operationalized by the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC) Limited and has been operationalized from 1 st April 2023. As on 31st January 2026, loans amounting to around Rs 925 crore have been guaranteed to startup borrowers, of which loans amounting to around Rs 39 crore have been guaranteed to women-led startups. The total number of startups selected and the total number of startups that are categorized as closed (i.e., dissolved/struck-off) as per the MCA, under the Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS), Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS), and Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS) are as follows: Scheme No. of startups selected for support under the Scheme as on 31 st January 2026 No. of startups supported which are categorized as closed (i.e., dissolved/struck-off) as per the MCA. FFS 1,382 17 SISFS 3,311 26 CGSS 281 1 This information was given by Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Shri Jitin Prasada in Lok Sabha today. *** ANNEXURE-I The State/UT-wise and year-wise number of entities recognized as startups that have at least one-woman director/partner, as on 31 st January 2026, are as under: State/UT 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 Andaman and Nicobar Islands 1 1 4 2 5 4 3 10 8 2 Andhra Pradesh 37 85 92 102 137 173 294 313 670 59 Arunachal Pradesh - - - - 4 5 8 5 16 - Assam 8 28 30 53 83 122 168 170 216 24 Bihar 23 53 59 114 183 257 384 417 600 63 Chandigarh 8 10 21 27 38 36 64 49 57 4 Chhattisgarh 18 55 69 54 82 91 148 218 230 25 Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu 1 1 3 4 7 6 12 12 1 Delhi 240 568 671 834 1197 1283 1607 1471 1911 166 Goa 13 24 22 27 41 49 40 64 86 5 Gujarat 108 217 313 365 800 944 1431 1568 1845 184 Haryana 98 233 360 375 532 674 893 888 1250 116 Himachal Pradesh 1 6 14 12 23 56 65 74 83 12 Jammu and Kashmir 2 14 12 23 40 71 82 111 150 20 Jharkhand 16 35 37 85 89 108 172 151 207 22 Karnataka 298 536 807 757 1065 1242 1500 1629 2219 196 Kerala 49 112 267 249 398 431 534 506 736 81 Ladakh - - - 1 - 1 3 2 1 - Lakshadweep - - - 1 - - - - - - Madhya Pradesh 32 123 150 173 264 421 622 616 846 121 Maharashtra 388 839 1110 1305 1937 2412 2913 3043 4043 386 Manipur 3 1 1 5 21 13 7 22 42 4 Meghalaya - 1 5 - 5 5 6 11 12 - Mizoram - - - 1 1 3 6 6 6 - Nagaland 1 1 1 3 4 3 13 21 15 - Odisha 40 80 90 126 196 230 329 296 409 40 Puducherry 2 7 6 3 7 11 21 13 28 5 Punjab 9 35 54 72 125 147 226 219 268 31 Rajasthan 53 114 192 205 301 458 691 657 906 87 Sikkim - - - <td style="width:37.5pt"