National Startup Awards 2026: ₹10 Lakh Cash Prize, Eligibility & How to Apply

At a glance

About the scheme

Organised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the National Startup Awards seeks to identify and honour visionary enterprises that create scalable solutions, foster employment, and drive measurable social impact. Beyond financial rewards, the initiative offers finalists and winners valuable industry exposure, government procurement connects, and global visibility.

Benefits

• A cash prize of ₹10,00,000 awarded to one winning startup in each category by DPIIT.
• Opportunity for winners and finalists to present solutions to corporate entities and public authorities for potential pilot projects and work orders.
• Priority access and participation in prominent national and international startup events attended by DPIIT.
• Curated handholding support spanning mentorship, investor networking, and corporate procurement channels.

Who can apply (eligibility)

• The entity must be recognised as a startup by DPIIT and hold a valid certificate of recognition.
• Must possess a Certificate of Incorporation from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs or Certificate of Registration from the respective Registrar of Firms.
• Must have an operational hardware or software product or a process solution currently available in the market.
• Must hold all applicable trade-specific registrations such as GST, MSME, FSSAI, or CE.
• No financial default in the last three financial years (FY 2019-20, FY 2020-21, FY 2021-22) by the startup, promoters, or group entities.
• Must provide audited financial statements for the last three financial years (FY 2019-20, FY 2020-21, FY 2021-22); startups less than three years old submit available statements, startups under one year are exempt, and provisional statements are accepted for FY 2021-22.
• The startup must not be completing 10 years of incorporation on or before 31st March 2024.

Who cannot apply

• Startups that have been declared winners under any sector or category in any previous edition of the National Startup Awards are not eligible.
• Entities completing 10 years of incorporation on or before 31st March 2024 are excluded.
• Candidates that refuse legal due diligence reviews by third-party evaluators may be disqualified.

Documents required

• DPIIT Certificate of Recognition.
• Certificate of Incorporation or Certificate from the Registrar of Firms.
• Memorandum of Association, Partnership deed, or accepted proof for a woman founder (if applying under relevant categories).
• PAN card and Aadhaar card of the founder or co-founders.
• Startup Pitch Deck containing not more than 10 slides.
• Applicable trade-specific registration certificates (e.g., GST, MSME, FSSAI).
• Proof of Patent or Intellectual Property Rights (if applicable).
• Audited financial statements for the past 3 years (Profit & Loss Statement, Balance Sheet, ITR) or CA-certified provisional statements.
• A 120-second video explaining the product or service, business model, scalability, innovation, and impact (direct upload, no YouTube links).
• Self-attested documents showing active users, employee headcount, R&D prototype development, funding raised, or TRL level.
• Category-specific supporting proofs, MOUs, academic admission/graduation proof, or manufacturing ownership records.

How to apply

1. 1Register your entity on the Startup India portal and secure your DPIIT recognition number.
2. 2Visit the National Startup Awards section on the official Startup India portal.
3. 3Click on the application link for the National Startup Awards.
4. 4Log in through your recognized startup account, choose 'Apply', and select up to 2 award categories.
5. 5Verify the pre-filled information populated automatically from your Startup India profile.
6. 6Fill in the required business, impact, and innovation details in English.
7. 7Upload the 120-second pitch video, pitch deck, financial records, and category-specific documents within prescribed size limits.
8. 8Review all entered data and click Submit before the deadline.

Frequently asked questions