Quick answer
Who is eligible for Startup India registration in 2026?
Startup India registration (DPIIT recognition) is open to private limited companies, partnership firms, LLPs and co-operative societies that are up to 10 years old (20 for deep-tech) with turnover below ₹200 crore (₹300 crore for deep-tech) in every year, under G.S.R. 108(E) of February 2026. There is no government fee.
- No government fee for DPIIT recognition
- Turnover below ₹200 crore, or ₹300 crore for deep-tech
- Up to 10 years from incorporation, or 20 for deep-tech
- Startup India says it has not appointed any agency
What is Startup India registration, and is it the same as DPIIT recognition?
Yes. Startup India registration is the common name for DPIIT recognition: the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade certifies that your entity is a start-up under the government's definition. The recognition certificate is what banks, investors, tax authorities and other departments ask for when you claim start-up benefits.
Recognition is about the entity, not the founder. You first need a registered business structure, then you apply. A sole proprietorship cannot be recognised, so founders who want the benefits usually incorporate a private limited company or an LLP first. Our guide to Pvt Ltd vs LLP vs OPC explains the trade-offs.
Who is eligible for DPIIT recognition after the February 2026 changes?
Four conditions decide eligibility: the type of entity, its age, its turnover, and the nature of its work. G.S.R. 108(E), notified in February 2026, raised the turnover and age limits, so many businesses that were outside the old definition can now apply.
| Condition | General start-up | Deep-tech start-up |
|---|---|---|
| Entity type | Private limited company, partnership firm, LLP or co-operative society | Same |
| Age from incorporation or registration | Up to 10 years | Up to 20 years |
| Turnover in any financial year | Below ₹200 crore | Below ₹300 crore |
| Government fee | None | None |
| Where to apply | National Single Window System (nsws.gov.in) | Same |
Source: Startup India recognition page (G.S.R. 108(E), February 2026), checked October 2026. Some national registration sites still show the earlier ₹100 crore turnover cap.
Need help with startup India (DPIIT) registration? Talk to a chartered accountant in Delhi today. First call is free.
What documents are needed for Startup India registration?
The application needs the entity's incorporation proof, its PAN, details of directors or partners, and a clear description of what the business does and why it is innovative or scalable. Most applications that get stuck are held up by a weak write-up rather than missing paperwork.
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Certificate of incorporation or registration | Company, LLP, firm or co-operative |
| PAN of the entity | Must match the incorporation record |
| Details of directors or partners | Names, contact details, and identity details asked in the form |
| Business description | What problem you solve, how, and how the business can grow |
| Website, pitch deck or product video (if any) | Helps the reviewer understand the product |
| Patents, trademarks or awards (if any) | Optional, but supports the innovation claim |
| Authorisation for the applicant | Board resolution or partner authority where relevant |
Check the live form on nsws.gov.in; fields change from time to time.
How to apply for Startup India registration: step by step
The application is filed online through the National Single Window System. It is free and is filed by the entity itself; no agency is needed.
- 1
Incorporate the entity
Form a private limited company, LLP, registered partnership or co-operative if you have not already.
- 2
Create an account on nsws.gov.in
Register the entity and the authorised person on the National Single Window System.
- 3
Fill the DPIIT recognition form
Enter entity details, founders, turnover, sector and the business description.
- 4
Upload supporting documents
Attach the incorporation certificate and any material that shows innovation or scalability.
- 5
Submit and track
Submit without any fee, answer queries if raised, and download the certificate once issued.
How much does DPIIT recognition cost, and are there official agents?
There is no government fee for DPIIT recognition. Startup India states plainly that it has not appointed any agency to help start-ups get recognised, so any firm that claims to be an "official partner" is misrepresenting itself.
Founders sometimes pay for help with the business write-up or the follow-on tax application, which is a private service. Online platforms advertise Startup India packages from about ₹4,899 plus government fees (seen October 2026), even though the government fee here is nil. If you use a consultant, treat it as drafting help, not a fast track.
CA in Delhi is an independent directory. We are not an agent of Startup India or DPIIT, and no listed firm can speed up or influence a recognition decision.
What benefits does DPIIT recognition give?
Recognition is the gateway to start-up specific concessions. Two that matter most to Delhi founders are a lower trademark fee and the option to apply for the 80-IAC tax holiday.
- Lower trademark fee. IP India's official fee table charges recognised start-ups ₹4,500 per class instead of ₹9,000 for trademark registration.
- Tax holiday (80-IAC). An eligible start-up can claim a deduction for 3 years out of its first 10 years (details below).
- Credibility. Investors, incubators and accelerators often ask for the DPIIT certificate.
Other schemes and procurement benefits exist; check the current list on the Startup India portal, since they change more often than the recognition rules.
What is the 80-IAC tax exemption for start-ups?
Section 80-IAC lets an eligible start-up claim a tax deduction on its profits for any 3 years out of its first 10 years. It is available only to private limited companies and LLPs incorporated after 1 April 2016, and recognition by DPIIT comes first.
- Partnership firms and co-operatives can be recognised as start-ups but are outside 80-IAC.
- The tax benefit has conditions and an approval step of its own beyond recognition. Read the conditions on the Startup India portal before you plan around it.
- The Income-tax Act 2025 is in force from 1 April 2026, and provisions carry new section numbers under it. Ask your tax adviser how the start-up deduction is referenced for your year.
Choose the 3 years carefully. A start-up still making losses gains little from a deduction claimed early. Your advisor should model which years give the most value.
Startup India registration in Delhi: what founders should plan
The application is national, but the order of steps matters for Delhi founders, who often start as proprietors or partnerships before raising money.
- If you run a proprietorship today, convert or incorporate first. Private limited company registration with ROC Delhi is the usual route if you plan to raise equity; LLP registration suits service businesses with few partners.
- Apply for DPIIT recognition soon after incorporation, so the 10-year clock is used well.
- File the trademark at the start-up rate once recognised.
- If you raise funds, plan the share valuation early. See business valuation.
Many tech and D2C founders in Rohini and Pitampura work from home or co-working spaces. Our CA in Rohini page covers that area.
How CA in Delhi helps with Startup India registration
We check eligibility under the 2026 rules, help draft the business description, and line up incorporation, trademark and tax steps in the right order. A written fixed quote comes first, before any drafting starts.
Greenwolf Advisors, which shares our building at Best Sky Tower, handles business incorporation, entity setup and virtual CFO work for founders. All three listed firms are compared on the chartered accountant firms in Delhi page. The DPIIT decision itself rests with the government, not with us.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fee for DPIIT recognition?
Nil. The government does not charge for DPIIT recognition, and the application is filed free on nsws.gov.in. Startup India has also said it has not appointed any agency, so any paid service is a private consultant's drafting help, not an official channel.
What is the difference between DPIIT and Startup India registration?
None in practice. Startup India is the government programme; DPIIT is the department that grants recognition under it. When people say Startup India registration, they mean getting the DPIIT recognition certificate for their entity.
Can an existing business apply for Startup India recognition?
Yes, if it fits the conditions. An existing private limited company, LLP, registered partnership or co-operative can apply while it is within 10 years of incorporation (20 for deep-tech) and its turnover has stayed below ₹200 crore (₹300 crore for deep-tech) in every year.
Can a sole proprietorship get DPIIT recognition?
No. The eligible entity types are private limited companies, partnership firms, LLPs and co-operative societies. A proprietor who wants recognition has to set up one of these structures first and then apply in the new entity's name.
Has the ₹100 crore turnover limit changed?
Yes. Under G.S.R. 108(E) of February 2026 the turnover limit is ₹200 crore, or ₹300 crore for deep-tech start-ups. The age limit also moved to 10 years, or 20 for deep-tech. Pages still quoting ₹100 crore are out of date.
Is there a renewal for DPIIT recognition?
There is no renewal fee. Recognition depends on staying within the conditions, so once the entity crosses the age or turnover limit it stops being a start-up under the definition. Check the Startup India portal for any update or reporting it asks recognised entities to file.
Does DPIIT recognition give an automatic tax exemption?
No. Recognition is a pre-condition, but the start-up tax holiday has separate conditions and approval, and it is limited to companies and LLPs incorporated after 1 April 2016. If eligible, the deduction is claimed for 3 years out of the first 10. Plan this with your tax adviser.
Does DPIIT recognition reduce the trademark fee?
Yes. The IP India fee table gives start-ups the ₹4,500 per class e-filing rate for a trademark application, half of the ₹9,000 rate charged to other companies. Keep the recognition certificate ready when filing.
How long does it take to get a DPIIT certificate?
The government does not publish a fixed turnaround that we can cite, and timing varies with the quality of the application. Complete, well-described applications move faster; vague business descriptions draw queries that add weeks. Track the status on nsws.gov.in and reply to any query promptly from the same login.
Can a consultant guarantee faster recognition?
No one can promise that. Startup India has stated it has not appointed any agency, and recognition decisions rest with DPIIT. A good adviser can only make sure the application is complete and the business description is clear.