India, April 19 -- The government recognised more than 55,200 startups during the financial year 2025-26, marking the highest annual addition since the launch of the Startup India initiative, according to the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

The total number of recognised startups in the country has crossed 2.23 lakh as of March 31, 2026, collectively generating over 23.36 lakh direct jobs. The strong growth reflects continued expansion of India's startup ecosystem over the past decade.

The Startup India initiative was launched in January 2016, aimed to build a supportive environment for innovation, encourage investments, and promote entrepreneurship. The number of recognised startups rose by 31.6 per cent year-on-year in FY26 compared ...