Fifth Edition of National Startup Awards Opens for Applications | Honouring Innovation, Impact, and Inclusive Growth Across India
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has officially invited applications for the fifth edition of the National Startup Awards (NSA). This prestigious initiative, part of the Startup India program, aims to celebrate and reward high-performing startups that are not only commercially viable but also driving significant social and economic impact.
Launched in 2019, the National Startup Awards have become a benchmark for excellence in India’s startup ecosystem. More than just an accolade, the NSA is a platform for recognising innovations that align with the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and contribute to the government’s target of a five-trillion-dollar economy.
The Startup India program supports early-stage ventures with benefits such as recognition, tax exemptions, simplified regulations, access to funding, and capacity-building initiatives. The NSA evaluates applicants through a comprehensive, multi-stage process involving eligibility screening, domain-specific shortlisting, and expert evaluations by panels comprising industry leaders, investors, government officials, and academicians.
The awards span a diverse range of sectors including agriculture, clean energy, health, education, fintech, aerospace, cybersecurity, and accessibility. Each year, new categories are added to address emerging national and global challenges.
What sets NSA apart is its emphasis on holistic excellence. Winning startups are celebrated not only for their financial growth but also for their contributions to sustainability, inclusivity, and scalability. Winners gain national recognition, which opens doors to new partnerships, investor opportunities, mentoring, and policy advocacy.
Past winners have gone on to leave a lasting impact:
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Innaumation Medical Devices was honoured for developing a cost-effective voice prosthesis and later featured on national and international innovation platforms.
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Micob earned recognition from the ‘President with Startups’ initiative and successfully secured defence orders through iDEX.
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Blackfrog Technologies, makers of Emvolio—a WHO-prequalified vaccine carrier—expanded their presence to 16 Indian states and several African nations.
The 2025 edition of the National Startup Awards continues this legacy, reaffirming the role of startups as key agents of change in shaping a self-reliant, inclusive, and innovation-led economy.
Applications are now open and can be submitted at: https://rb.gy/3bg0yf
Since its inception in 2016, the Startup India movement has revolutionised India’s entrepreneurial landscape, empowering a new generation of innovators—especially youth, women, students, and first-time founders—from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. With over 1.75 lakh startups recognized by DPIIT to date, spanning nearly every district and sector, the program continues to fuel India’s transformation into a global startup powerhouse.