New Startup Schemes in Haryana: What’s Coming and Who Can Benefit?

What helps a startup thrive beyond just a brilliant idea? Is it access to funding, mentorship, or a collaborative community? Or is it a well-supported ecosystem that enables founders to take their ideas from paper to product—without losing steam halfway?

As India continues to strengthen its identity as a global innovation hub, state governments are stepping in with focused policies to nurture the entrepreneurial spirit at the grassroots level. And now, Haryana is making its move.

The state government is planning a new set of schemes under the Haryana State Startup Policy 2022, aimed not directly at startups—but at the incubators that support them. This strategic focus is not only forward-thinking but also essential to sustain long-term innovation.

So, what’s in store? Who benefits? And how big is this push? Let’s break it down.

New Schemes Under Haryana Startup Policy

The announcement came during a review meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi. The session focused on the progress of Haryana’s startup ecosystem and existing incubator schemes. That’s where Amit Agrawal, Commissioner and Secretary of the Industries and Commerce Department, unveiled the state’s bold new approach.

Instead of only launching startup grants or one-time benefits, the government is now directing its attention to incubators—the backbone of a robust startup economy.

Why this shift? Because incubators are where ideas are nurtured, founders are mentored, and early-stage products are tested. If you want to grow startups, you first have to grow the environment that supports them.

What’s on Offer: The Highlights of the Schemes

Haryana’s new schemes are designed to reduce financial burden, build modern infrastructure, and offer recurring support to incubators—both in the government and private sectors.

Here’s a closer look:

Capital Subsidies to Ease Initial Costs

• 50% subsidy on capital expenditure

• Up to ₹2 crore for government-owned host institutions

• Up to ₹1 crore for private incubators

This means a significant portion of the cost of setting up or upgrading incubator facilities will be taken care of by the state.

Funding for Innovation Warehouses and Campuses

• ₹4 crore assistance for developing new startup warehouses or innovation campuses

• Additional ₹1 crore per year for 3 years to cover recurring operational expenses

Whether it's converting an unused building into a tech lab or building a co-creation space in a university, this scheme helps turn visions into tangible startup-ready spaces.

Mobile App Development Centres

• The same support structure is also being planned for Mobile Application Development Centres, indicating a push towards fostering digital-first entrepreneurship.

Operational Incentives That Matter

• 50% reimbursement on lease rent (up to ₹5 lakh/year for 3 years)

• 100% reimbursement of stamp duty and registration charges

• ₹2.5 lakh/year for mentorship initiatives at government incubators

This significantly reduces the administrative and infrastructure cost for incubators, enabling them to focus more on building quality programs for startups.

Exposure on National & Global Platforms

• Up to ₹50 lakh per event to incubators for organizing or participating in national and international startup exhibitions and fairs

This opens doors for Haryana-based incubators and startups to connect globally, showcase innovations, and attract investors or collaborators.

A Look at Haryana’s Current Startup Landscape

While this policy update is a big step forward, Haryana’s startup story has been quietly evolving over the past few years.

According to Agrawal, the state currently stands 7th in India in terms of the number of startups recognised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). That’s over 8,800 DPIIT-registered startups operating across sectors like agritech, healthtech, edtech, mobility, and manufacturing.

These startups are not just ideating—they’re creating jobs, generating revenue, and solving real-world problems, especially in tier-2 and semi-urban areas.

The Incubator Network: Already Strong, Now Getting Stronger

Currently, Haryana has:

• 25+ incubators functioning in government and private universities

• 10+ private-sector-run incubators

• 10 government-supported incubators

These hubs offer services like co-working spaces, mentoring, startup bootcamps, investor connects, and technical support. The new schemes will help them scale these offerings and widen their impact across the state.

Imagine an engineering student in Rohtak turning her college project into a healthtech product or a farming solution prototype in Hisar becoming the next big agri startup—that’s the kind of ground-level impact these incubators can enable.

India has more than 100,000 registered startups, and yet many of them struggle due to lack of localised, early-stage support. What Haryana is doing differently is that it is strengthening the startup ecosystem from the root—instead of just launching top-down policies.

It’s about creating the right environment, not just offering short-term sops.

By focusing on incubators, the state is building platforms for knowledge, community, and capital to converge—and this could be the formula that takes its startup ecosystem to the next level.

Is Haryana the Next Startup Powerhouse?

With proximity to Delhi-NCR, growing interest from young entrepreneurs, and now a strong push for incubator support, Haryana is positioning itself as more than just an industrial hub—it’s becoming a startup enabler.

The big question is: Will this effort turn into impact?
If implemented effectively, the answer could very well be yes.

For now, one thing is clear—Haryana’s message to startups and ecosystem builders is simple and strong: “We’re backing you to grow.”