India Crosses 2 Lakh DPIIT-Recognized Startups, Marking a Significant Milestone in Its Innovation Journey

India has officially crossed the milestone of 2 lakh DPIIT-recognized startups, marking a significant expansion in the country's entrepreneurial activities across various sectors and regions

This growth, from just 350 startups in 2014, is driven by policy reforms, enhanced digital infrastructure, and increased participation from young founders, making India the third-largest startup ecosystem globally

The BHASKAR platform has become a key digital network for the startup community, with over 637 lakh users, demonstrating the formalization and digital integration of the ecosystem.

The Startup India mission, launched in 2016, has been pivotal in accelerating the growth, with a significant increase in startups from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, and nearly half of the startups having at least one woman director

Key regulatory reforms since 2014, such as the removal of outdated laws and liberalization in sectors like space and defence, have improved the ease of doing business for startups

The Department of Financial Services has introduced a unified digital gateway for startup credit applications, improving financial access and streamlining loan processes for early-stage ventures

India is now the second-largest startup hub globally, with 598,573 companies, 123 unicorns, and substantial funding activity, despite a slight slowdown in funding compared to the previous year

Leading Indian startups like Flipkart, Swiggy, and Nykaa exemplify the country's cross-sector innovation capabilities, contributing to the ecosystem's vibrancy and resilience

The funding landscape in 2025 highlights continued investor confidence, with notable funding rounds and a strong pipeline for emerging sectors like AI, climate tech, and SaaS

The milestone of 2 lakh startups not only signifies numerical growth but also underscores the structural robustness of India's startup ecosystem, setting the stage for future expansion and innovation