To qualify for registration, startups must have been in operation for no more than 10 years and be incorporated as a private limited company, registered partnership firm, or limited liability partnership.
Initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 16, 2016, the Startup India program is designed to bolster India’s startup ecosystem through various benefits related to patent filing, funding, tax exemptions, winding up procedures, public procurement, and more. As of May 17, the program has recognized 1.36 million startups, with 3,845 of these receiving funding.
Registration Criteria and Process
To be eligible for registration under the Startup India program by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), startups must meet the following criteria:
- Operational for not over 10 years
- Incorporated as a private limited company, registered partnership firm, or limited liability partnership.
- Annual turnover should not exceed Rs 100 crore in any financial year since incorporation.
Step-by-Step Registration Process
1. Visit the National Single Window System:
- Go to nsws.gov.in and sign up by clicking the Login button at the top right of the page.
2. Select Entity Type:
- Choose the type of entity (Incorporated Company/Limited Liability Partnership/Sole Proprietor/Others) and click ‘Next’.
3. Enter PAN Details:
- Input the company PAN details and validate them. Click ‘Next’.
4. Provide Registered Address:
- Enter the registered business address and click ‘Next’.
5. Verify PAN Using DSC:
- Verify your PAN using a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC). Click on ‘Proceed to Verify’.
6. Validate Pre-Filled and Additional Details:
- Check and validate the pre-filled information and provide any additional required details.
7. Register DSC:
- Attach the Digital Signature Certificate and click ‘Register DSC’. A ‘DSC Verification Successful’ message will appear.
8. Navigate to Dashboard:
- Click on ‘My Dashboard’ on the left side of the page and then on ‘Apply to Register as a Startup’.
9. Fill Application Form:
- Complete the form with relevant details such as logo, startup information, website, industry, sector, business address, and details of company representatives.
- Provide information about total employees, trademark applications, nature of the startup, innovation, scalability, and any funding received.
- Write a note explaining the startup’s innovation, the problem it addresses, the uniqueness of the solution, and revenue generation.
10. Self-Certification:
- Upload the Certificate of Incorporation and Authorisation Letter.
- Accept the terms and conditions, save the draft, and then review and submit the form.
11. Final Submission:
- Review the completed form, confirm the accuracy of the information, and click ‘Submit Application’. The application status will then show as ‘Submitted’.
Approval of the application may take up to a week. Once approved, you can download your ‘Certificate of Recognition’ along with the DPIIT number by clicking on ‘Download’.
