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What is DPIIT / Startup India recognition, and what do I actually get from it?

A starting point

DPIIT recognition is a free certificate from the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade that officially labels your entity a 'startup', apply on the National Single Window System (nsws.gov.in), no fee. It unlocks the 80-IAC three-year tax holiday, Section 56 angel-tax exemption, self-certification on labour/environment laws, IPR fast-tracking with rebates, and eligibility for the Seed Fund Scheme. It's the master key: most Indian government schemes require it, so get recognised before you apply anywhere.

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India Free Beginner

DPIIT Startup Recognition & Tax Exemption (Startup India)

From startupindia.gov.in by Startup India / DPIIT Official portal page

Why we picked it

The official source for DPIIT recognition, the free registration that unlocks tax benefits, self-certification, and scheme eligibility for Indian startups. Straight from the government, not a middleman.

  • Recognition is free and often approved within days
  • Unlocks tax exemptions, labour-law self-certification, and faster IP processing
  • Eligible entities: Pvt Ltd, LLP, partnership, or cooperative under 10 years old
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Startup India, Government Schemes for Startups

From Startup India (startupindia.gov.in) by DPIIT, Government of India Directory / ongoing

Why we picked it

This is the single official directory of central and state government schemes for Indian startups, the primary source, not a blog summarising it. If you only bookmark one page for non-dilutive funding, make it this one and filter by your sector, stage, and state.

  • Aggregates central schemes (Seed Fund, Fund of Funds 2.0, Credit Guarantee Scheme) plus state and ministry-specific programmes in one searchable place.
  • Links out to the partner desks that actually run the money, BIRAC, Atal Innovation Mission, MeitY Startup Hub, DST NIDHI.
  • Most listed schemes require DPIIT recognition first, so treat recognition as prerequisite step zero.
  • Filter by stage and sector rather than scrolling, the wrong-desk application is the most common reason founders get rejected.
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People also ask

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