DPIIT Showcases 12 Years of Transformative Reforms; Startup Ecosystem Emerges as a Key Driver of India’s Growth Story

DPIIT Showcases 12 Years of Transformative Reforms; Startup Ecosystem Emerges as a Key Driver of India’s Growth Story

’Startup-Led Growth Reflects the Success of 12 Years of Governance’ : Sumeet Kumar Jarangal

Chandigarh 10 June ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : As part of the Government’s nationwide campaign commemorating 12 Years of Governance, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, organised a Regional Press Briefing in Chandigarh to highlight the Department’s major initiatives, structural reforms and achievements over the past decade.

Addressing the media, Sumeet Kumar Jarangal, Joint Secretary, DPIIT, outlined the transformative journey of India’s industrial and startup ecosystem, emphasizing that policy reforms, innovation and entrepreneurship have emerged as key pillars of India’s economic resilience and global competitiveness.

Twelve Years of Transformative Governance

Highlighting the Department’s achievements, Jarangal said India has successfully navigated multiple global disruptions while undertaking far-reaching structural reforms that have strengthened investor confidence and accelerated industrial growth. Over the last decade, India attracted cumulative Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows of USD 843 billion between FY 2014-15 and FY 2025-26, representing a 169 per cent increase over the preceding twelve-year period. Even amid global economic uncertainties, the country recorded a historic USD 94.53 billion in FY 2025-26, with over 90 per cent of equity inflows coming through the automatic route.

The Joint Secretary highlighted that flagship initiatives such as Make in India and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme have translated investments into manufacturing strength. Across 14 strategic sectors, the PLI schemes have attracted investments of Rs 2.40 lakh crore, generated production worth Rs 22.66 lakh crore, exports exceeding Rs 15.20 lakh crore, and created more than 14 lakh jobs. He noted that India now manufactures 99.2 per cent of the mobile phones used domestically, while the pharmaceutical sector has significantly reduced import dependence through domestic production of 191 bulk drugs, with PLI-supported production contributing substantially to exports.

Trust-Based Governance and Ease of Doing Business

The briefing also highlighted the Government’s sustained efforts to simplify regulations and improve the ease of doing business. More than 47,000 compliances have been eliminated and numerous legal provisions rationalised through the Jan Vishwas Act, 2026, reflecting a shift from enforcement-based regulation to a trust-based governance framework. The National Single Window System, integrated with 32 Central Ministries and 34 States and Union Territories, has processed over 13.7 lakh applications and facilitated more than 8.5 lakh approvals, creating a seamless investment ecosystem. Reforms are further being strengthened through initiatives such as the Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP), Udyog Samagam and District-level BRAP.

Startup India Driving Inclusive Growth

Focusing on India’s startup revolution, Jarangal said the Startup India initiative, launched on 16 January 2016, has evolved into a comprehensive platform supporting entrepreneurship through startup recognition, seed funding, venture capital support, credit guarantees, tax incentives, procurement reforms and international market access. Today, India has more than 2.35 lakh DPIIT-recognised startups, generating around 24 lakh direct jobs, with over half emerging from Tier-II and Tier-III cities. Nearly half of these startups have at least one woman director or partner, reflecting the inclusive nature of the ecosystem.

He highlighted that key initiatives such as the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS), Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS), Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS 1.0) and the newly launched Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 are strengthening access to capital across various stages of the startup lifecycle. Under FFS 1.0, investments of nearly Rs 27,600 crore have been facilitated across more than 1,450 startups, while Rs 945 crore has been approved under SISFS through over 215 incubators. CGSS has supported startup borrowers through loan guarantees exceeding Rs 1,350 crore.

Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh Emerging as Innovation Hubs

The Joint Secretary noted that Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh together account for around 15,500 DPIIT-recognised startups, generating over 1.7 lakh direct jobs. The region has witnessed investments of over Rs 2,270 crore across more than 115 startups through Alternative Investment Funds supported under FFS, while nearly 260 startups have benefited under the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme. Credit support through CGSS has enabled guaranteed loans of around Rs 180 crore, and over 320 startups across the three regions have received Certificates of Eligibility for income tax exemption. These achievements, he said, demonstrate the growing strength of the region’s innovation ecosystem and its contribution to employment generation and economic growth.

Logistics and Innovation Strengthening Competitiveness

Jarangal also underlined the progress made in logistics and innovation. India’s logistics costs have declined to around 7.9 per cent of GDP, supported by initiatives such as the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan and the National Logistics Policy, enabling greater supply chain efficiency and resilience. He further noted that India’s rise by 38 places in the Global Innovation Index since 2014, coupled with a 236 per cent increase in patent filings, reflects the country’s emergence as a global innovation and technology hub.

Road Ahead

Outlining the future roadmap, the Joint Secretary said Startup India will continue to focus on expanding recognition, strengthening financing mechanisms, promoting deep-tech innovation and enhancing outreach in emerging entrepreneurial regions. Initiatives such as Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0, FFS 1.0, SISFS, CGSS and TEJAS will further deepen access to capital and innovation support at the district level.

He emphasized that the Government’s primary objective is to take these transformative policies and entrepreneurial opportunities to the grassroots, ensuring that innovation-led growth reaches every corner of the country. As part of his visit, Jarangal is also scheduled to interact with stakeholders from the regional startup ecosystem, reaffirming DPIIT’s commitment to strengthening innovation and entrepreneurship across India.