National Startup Awards 2025: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has opened applications for the fifth edition of the National Startup Awards (NSA), a flagship initiative under the Startup India program, led by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Launched in 2019, the awards aim to identify and honour startups that demonstrate not only economic success but also significant contributions in sustainability, scalability, and social impact.
Awards are part of the government’s broader vision of building an Aatmanirbhar Bharat and advancing toward a five-trillion-dollar economy. Over the years, NSA has gained credibility and expanded its reach, with the previous edition receiving more than 2,300 applications. The initiative supports promising ventures through startup recognition, tax exemptions, regulatory ease, access to funding, and capacity-building opportunities.
Startups from a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, fintech, health, clean energy, aerospace, education, cybersecurity, and accessibility, are encouraged to apply. Each edition introduces new award categories to reflect evolving national priorities and innovation challenges.
NSA follows a rigorous, multi-stage evaluation process. This includes eligibility screening, sector-wise shortlisting, and in-depth assessment by expert panels comprising top investors, industry leaders, academicians, and senior government officials. DPIIT leads the selection process in coordination with relevant ministries and departments to ensure a transparent and comprehensive assessment.
A cash prize of Rs 10 lakh is proposed to be awarded to each winning startup in the general award categories by DPIIT. Additionally, winners and finalists may be given priority to represent India at key national and international startup events where DPIIT is participating.
Winning the NSA offers benefits far beyond the award itself. Recognised startups gain national credibility, enhanced access to investors and mentors, opportunities to engage with policymakers, and global exposure. Many past winners have gone on to secure major grants, expand to new markets, and even influence national policy.
Notable past winners include Innaumation Medical Devices, recognised for its innovative voice prosthesis and later featured at the Tata Social Enterprise Challenge and international forums; Micob, which participated in the ‘President with Startups’ initiative and secured defence orders through iDEX; and Blackfrog Technologies, whose WHO-prequalified Emvolio vaccine carrier is now used across 16 Indian states and countries like Kenya and Nigeria.
Applications for the National Startup Awards 2025 are now open. Startups can apply through the official portal: https://rb.gy/3bg0yf.
To date, DPIIT has recognised over 1.75 lakh startups across nearly every district in India, spanning fields such as agriculture, health, education, energy, and deep tech.
