New Delhi, April 18 -- The central government recognised over 55,200 startups in FY 2025-26, the highest annual figure since the launch of Startup India, marking a 51.6 per cent rise over FY 2024-25.

In a press release, the Commerce & Industry Ministry said that since its inception on 16 January 2016, the initiative has recognised over 2.23 lakh startups as of 31 March 2026, collectively generating more than 23.36 lakh direct jobs.

In FY 2025-26 alone, recognised startups created nearly 4.99 lakh direct jobs, up 36.1 per cent fr0m the previous year. Over 1.07 lakh startups-about 48 per cent of the total-now have at least one woman director or partner.

Regional Spread Across States

Startups are now present across all States and Union T...