Summary:
At the Startup Mahakumbh 2025 held in New Delhi, the ‘Startup Maharathi’ Awards were bestowed by Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Mr Piyush Goyal, in recognition of India’s dynamic innovation landscape. Referring to the 2,400 challengers and 3,000 exhibitors participating in the event as ‘Maharathis’, Mr Goyal commended their pivotal role in propelling the nation’s startup transformation. During his address, he urged entrepreneurs to aspire ambitiously and make impactful contributions throughout this Amrit Kaal period. This year, the event drew an unprecedented footfall of 2.3 lakh visitors which is an exponential rise from last year’s 3,000, marking a milestone in India's accelerating innovation momentum. The particular significance was the participation from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, which comprised 40% of total applicants, alongside notable engagement from startups led by women.
Among the prominent declarations was the sanctioning of a Second Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS), valued at Rs. 10,000 crore (approximately US$ 1.17 billion). Of this, Rs. 2,000 crore (US$ 234.4 million) is set to be channelled this year through the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI). Designed to provide seed-stage assistance, the fund will target emerging sectors such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, machine learning, quantum computing, biotechnology and semiconductor design. Additionally, Mr Goyal revealed the inception of a Startup India Desk—an initiative accessible via a four-digit, toll-free number available in regional languages. Reiterating the government’s commitment to easing the regulatory environment, he highlighted the scrapping or simplification of more than 40,000 compliances and the ongoing decriminalisation of outdated statutes. Furthermore, he called upon SIDBI to roll out support centres in every state. The government continues to emphasise facilitation over regulation, aiming to foster a startup ecosystem that is resilient, inclusive and self-sustaining, thereby empowering innovators across the nation.
Source: IBEF
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