Startup Policy Forum, MCA Launch India’s First Startup Compliance Clinic to Cut Regulatory Friction

For India’s startup founders, navigating compliance can often feel as challenging as building the business itself. From company incorporation and share issuance to MCA filings and regulatory overlaps, even well-intentioned rules can become roadblocks if clarity is missing. Recognising this reality, the government and industry have taken a decisive step to bridge the gap between policy intent and on-ground execution.

In a move aimed at strengthening India’s startup ecosystem and further improving ease of doing business, Startup Policy Forum, in collaboration with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, launched the first-ever Startup Compliance Clinic, a structured platform designed to address regulatory challenges faced by startups in real time.

The inaugural edition of the clinic brought together more than 75 participants from across the country, including startup founders, chief financial officers, and legal and compliance professionals. What set the session apart was its practical focus—participants raised real-world, implementation-level questions rather than theoretical policy concerns.

From Incorporation to MCA Filings: Addressing Real Startup Pain Points

The discussions covered a wide range of regulatory touchpoints that startups deal with at various stages of growth. These included company incorporation and name reservation issues, share issuance and capital structuring, processes on the MCA portal, statutory reporting requirements, and overlaps between different regulatory frameworks.

Rather than a one-way presentation, the clinic was designed as an open dialogue. Founders and compliance professionals actively shared the hurdles they face while interpreting regulations, and officials responded with clarifications, guidance, and context on compliance expectations.

Opening the session, Deepti Gaur Mukerjee, Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, underlined the government’s intent to work closely with startups. She reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to addressing operational challenges, improving regulatory clarity, and positioning itself as a collaborative partner in fostering a more conducive environment for innovation and entrepreneurship.

Direct Engagement with Policymakers

The Startup Compliance Clinic was jointly led by Balamurugan D., Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, and Shweta Rajpal Kohli, President and CEO of Startup Policy Forum.

Senior MCA officials, including Sidhil Sasi, Deputy Director General, and N. K. Dua, Director, along with other Ministry representatives, engaged directly with participants during the session. They addressed specific concerns, explained procedural nuances, and offered clarity on compliance processes that often create uncertainty for startups.

This direct engagement helped demystify regulatory processes and reinforced the idea that compliance need not be adversarial, but can instead be collaborative and solution-oriented.

A Platform for Continuous Dialogue

Commenting on the initiative, Shweta Rajpal Kohli said the Startup Compliance Clinic is aimed squarely at resolving compliance-related pain points faced by startups and simplifying their engagement with regulators. She highlighted the Ministry’s responsive and open approach during the session and expressed confidence that the clinic would evolve into a sustained platform for dialogue between startups and policymakers.

The clinic is not envisioned as a one-off exercise. Multiple editions are planned in the future, with the goal of institutionalising a structured feedback mechanism. Through this platform, Startup Policy Forum aims to ensure that real-world compliance challenges faced by startups are communicated directly to policymakers, enabling timely, informed, and solution-driven discussions.

Representing India’s New-Age Economy

Startup Policy Forum is an industry body representing over 60 of India’s largest and fastest-growing new-age companies, with a combined valuation exceeding $100 billion. Its membership includes prominent startups such as Razorpay, Groww, Zerodha, Swiggy, CRED, OYO, Ather Energy, Sarvam AI, InVideo, ixigo, and Meesho, among others.

With the launch of the Startup Compliance Clinic, SPF and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs have signalled a clear shift—from compliance as a bottleneck to compliance as a collaborative process. For India’s startup ecosystem, this could mark a meaningful step toward smoother regulatory engagement and stronger policy feedback loops.