National Startup Day 2026: Start-up India Turns 10
Why in the news
The tenth anniversary of Start-up India fell on National Startup Day, 16 January 2026, with a function in New Delhi where new editions of the national awards and ranking framework began.
Key facts
- Start-up India was launched in 2016 by DPIIT under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- Venue of 2026 event: Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi; address by PM Narendra Modi.
- Launched: the 5th National Startup Awards (NSA 5.0) and Startup Ranking Framework (SRF 5.0).
| Initiative | What it does |
|---|---|
| NSA 5.0 | Recognises start-ups in 20 categories, covering Tier-I to Tier-III cities and deep-tech sectors |
| SRF 5.0 | Evaluates 34 States and UTs on 6 reform areas and 19 action points |
Areas assessed under SRF 5.0
- Policy support, infrastructure, funding, market access and capacity building.
Exam angle
- Date: 16 January; nodal body: DPIIT, MoC&I.
- Anniversary marked in 2026: 10 years of Start-up India.
- Numbers: NSA 5.0 has 20 categories; SRF 5.0 covers 34 States and UTs.