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How many startups are there in India?

Last checked 23 October 2026 • Rechecked quarterly • 2 dated sources

2.23 lakh
DPIIT-recognised startups · 31 March 2026
Range
About 2.16 to 2.23 lakh still operating
Confidence
High: an official count
Last checked

The short answer

India had over 2.23 lakh DPIIT-recognised startups as of 31 March 2026. The Centre recognised more than 55,200 in FY26 alone, 51.6% more than the 36,400 of FY25. As of January 2026, 6,789 recognised startups had been categorised as closed or dissolved.

Recognition is cumulative. The government reported 6,789 recognised startups closed or dissolved as of January 2026; subtracting them gives the lower end. Unrecognised startups are not in either number.

The figures side by side

MeasureFigureSource
Recognised startups, cumulative2.23 lakhDPIIT via Inc42, 31 March 2026
Recognised in FY2655,200DPIIT via Inc42
Recognised in FY2536,400DPIIT via Inc42
Closed or dissolved6,789Lok Sabha reply, January 2026
Direct jobs reported23.36 lakhDPIIT via Inc42

How we got this number

  1. Take the government's cumulative count: over 2.23 lakh recognised as of 31 March 2026.
  2. Subtract the 6,789 reported closed or dissolved (Lok Sabha reply, data to January 2026) for a count of those still operating: about 2.16 lakh.
  3. Show the yearly flow: 55,200 recognised in FY26 against 36,400 in FY25.
  4. Report 2.23 lakh as the number and 2.16–2.23 lakh as the range.

What this number does not tell you

  • Recognition is voluntary; many startups never apply.
  • Closures are counted only when reported, so the operating number is likely lower than 2.16 lakh.
  • Recognition does not mean funding or revenue.

Sources

  1. DPIIT data, reported by Inc42, 18 April 2026The Centre recognised more than 55,200 startups in FY26. The number of recognised startups rose 51.6% in FY26 from over 36,400 in FY25. With this, the total number of DPIIT-recognised startups in the country jumped to over 2.23 Lakh as of March 31, 2026. The registered startups have collectively created more than 23.36 Lakh direct jobs so far.
  2. Commerce Ministry reply in the Lok Sabha, reported by Inc42, 11 March 20266,789 recognised startups have been categorised as closed or dissolved. The country was home to more than 2.12 Lakh DPIIT-recognised startups at the end of January 2026.

Worked out by us: 2.16 lakh (2.23 lakh recognised minus 6,789 reported closed, rounded).

Questions people ask

How many startups are registered in India in 2026?

Over 2.23 lakh DPIIT-recognised startups as of 31 March 2026.

How many Indian startups have shut down?

6,789 recognised startups were categorised as closed or dissolved as of January 2026, per the Commerce Ministry.

Read next

This is a best guess, not an official statistic. We recheck it quarterly. If you have a newer or better source, send it to us.

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