Applications Open for National Startup Awards 2026, Prize of ₹25 Lakh per Category

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) of the Central Government has invited applications for the sixth edition of the National Startup Awards. According to a Businessline report, the primary objective of these awards is to identify and honour startups across the country that demonstrate innovation, scalability, and impactful performance. This year, winners in each category will be awarded a cash prize of ₹25 lakh.

This award programme is organised under the 'Startup India' initiative of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. According to the DPIIT, these awards recognise startups that excel in the fields of innovation, scalability, sustainability, and socio-economic impact. Through this initiative, entrepreneurs making significant contributions across various sectors of the country will be identified.

A total of 20 sectoral categories have been established this year, covering diverse fields from agriculture to space technology. In addition to these 20 main categories, several special categories have also been included. These special categories comprise startups led by women, North-East Startup Excellence, student innovators, and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Startups recognised by the DPIIT are eligible to apply under these 20 sectoral categories and the designated special categories. According to the department, more than 2.6 lakh units have currently been recognised as startups, all of whom can participate in this process.

These awards are not limited to financial assistance alone, but will also help the selected startups gain national recognition and visibility. This will facilitate startups in reaching industry stakeholders and potential investors, which could prove crucial for the growth of their business.

To specifically encourage the younger generation, students aged 10 years and above can also apply for this award. However, a condition has been set for student applications that the solutions proposed by them must align with the vision of 'Viksit Bharat 2047' and 'Shakti Ki Sapt Dhara'.

In this context, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented a seven-point reform framework named 'Sapt Dhara' on August 15. The main objective of this framework is to accelerate the process of making India a developed nation by 2047. Sapt Dhara primarily focuses on manufacturing, agro-food production and food processing, technology and innovation, logistics, defence, green and blue economy, as well as soft power.

Applicants interested in this award can submit their applications by visiting the official Startup India portal at https://www.startupindia.gov.in/content/sih/en/nsa2026.html. The process has been kept entirely online so that entrepreneurs with innovative ideas from every corner of the country can join.

This entire initiative is a significant effort to strengthen India's culture of entrepreneurship and increase the use of technological solutions in economic growth. The 20 sectoral categories are likely to include critical sectors such as agriculture, health, education, and energy, which will contribute to the overall development of the country.