New Delhi, March 17 -- Women-led startups in India are seeing increasing support through government-backed funding schemes, even as their presence in the country's startup ecosystem continues to expand, Union minister of state for commerce and industry Jitin Prasada said in a written statement in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

Nearly half of India's recognized startups-1,02,054 out of 2,12,283-now have at least one woman director or partner, shows latest data from the commerce ministry, reflecting a steady rise in women's participation in entrepreneurship.

The development assumes significance as it comes a decade after the launch of the Startup India initiative in January 2016, which aimed to build a supportive ecosystem for innovation, ease...