India’s startup ecosystem has achieved a milestone, with a total valuation crossing $354 billion, said Arti Bhatnagar, Additional Secretary at the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
Speaking at the Startup Mahakumbh, the country’s largest startup gathering, Bhatnagar highlighted the tremendous progress made over the past decade, calling it a moment of pride for the nation.
From just eight unicorns in 2015 to 118 in 2025, India has witnessed a 13-fold increase in high-value startups.
“This kind of ecosystem that has come up in the country is something we can all be very proud of,” she said.
Bhatnagar credited this growth to a combination of enabling policies, targeted schemes, and the overall entrepreneurial spirit of the nation.
At the event, she shared key statistics that underscore the scale and impact of India’s startup movement. Over 1.64 lakh startups have been officially recognized by the government, generating employment for more than 18 lakh individuals. On average, each startup employs around 11 people, indicating a strong role in driving job creation.
The spread of startup culture has also expanded geographically. While only four states had a dedicated startup policy in 2016, that number has now jumped to 31 states and union territories. “These figures reflect not just growth but a deepening of the ecosystem across the country,” she said.
She further mentioned that schemes such as the Fund of Funds for Startups and the Startup India Seed Fund have offered the right push to young ventures. With the initial ₹10,000 crore fund now fully deployed, the government has announced Fund of Funds 2.0 in the latest Union Budget, injecting another ₹10,000 crore to support early-stage startups via Alternate Investment Funds and venture capital.
Bhatnagar cautioned, however, that progress should be viewed in the context of global developments. “Everything is a matter of relativity. We need to look at what other countries are doing and ensure we keep evolving,” she said.
Wrapping up her address, Bhatnagar praised the vibrant atmosphere. “I’m really loving the kind of energy here and it reflects the spirit of India’s innovation journey,” she said.
