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India celebrates National Startup Day 2025 on January 16, marking nine years since the launch of the transformative Startup India initiative.
This annual observance highlights the country's thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem and recognizes the critical role startups play in economic growth, innovation, and job creation.
Today, we mark #9YearsOfStartupIndia, a landmark initiative that has redefined innovation, entrepreneurship and growth. This is a programme very close to my heart, as it has emerged as a powerful way of furthering youth empowerment. Over the past nine years, this transformative…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 16, 2025
Here’s everything you need to know about the date, origin, significance, achievements, and celebrations of National Startup Day 2025.
The date and origin
National Startup Day was first announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 15, 2016, during the inaugural Startup India Innovation Week.
The day was designated by PM Modi to honour the contributions of entrepreneurs and encourage a vibrant startup culture. Since 2022, January 16 has been celebrated as National Startup Day annually, with the 2025 observance falling on a Thursday.
Proud of the strength and skills of India’s Yuva Shakti, which has made India among the most attractive places for StartUps! #9YearsOfStartupIndia https://t.co/61L8cRlySL
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 16, 2025
The significance of National Startup Day
National Startup Day serves as a platform to promote entrepreneurship, innovation, and job creation, aligning with India’s mission to become a $5 trillion economy. It underscores the government’s commitment to fostering a supportive ecosystem for startups and celebrates their impact on various sectors, including fintech, edtech, healthtech, and e-commerce.
Achievements of India’s startup ecosystem
India, which is now the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world, has made remarkable progress since the launch of the Startup India initiative. Key milestones include:
- Recognized Startups: As of January 15, 2025, over 1.59 lakh startups are registered with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), compared to just 500 in 2016.
- Women Entrepreneurs: Of these, 73,151 startups have at least one woman director, showcasing significant strides in promoting gender diversity.
- Job Creation: Between 2016 and October 31, 2024, DPIIT-recognized startups created more than 16.6 lakh direct jobs, with the IT services sector leading the way at 2.04 lakh jobs, followed by healthcare and life sciences with 1.47 lakh jobs.
- Unicorn Boom: India has over 100 unicorn startups, with major hubs like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi-NCR driving innovation and smaller cities emerging as significant contributors.
Key schemes and policies under Startup India
The Startup India initiative has introduced several flagship schemes and policies to support startups at every stage of their journey. Some of these flagship schemes are: Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS), Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS), and Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS).
Additionally, initiatives like tax benefits, simplified compliance, and sector-specific policies for biotechnology, agriculture, and renewable energy have provided a conducive environment for startups to thrive in the country.
Udyamotsav 2025 and Startup Mahakumbh
The National Startup Week 2025 features Udyamotsav 2025, a major event scheduled for January 16. Organized by the Ministry of Education, this initiative connects student entrepreneurs with investors and mentors.
Taking place across 14 cities, including Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR, Jaipur, and Hyderabad, Udyamotsav provides a platform for startups to pitch ideas, seek funding, and receive guidance on scaling their ventures.
The Startup Mahakumbh stands as a flagship event, bringing together startups, unicorns, soonicorns, investors, industry leaders, and ecosystem stakeholders under one roof. It showcases India's entrepreneurial spirit and technological prowess while fostering dialogue to strengthen the nation's startup ecosystem.