National Startup Awards is a grant from DPIIT / Startup India, Ministry of Commerce and Industry for dPIIT-recognized startups with a market-ready hardware/software product or process solution, holding applicable trade-specific…. It provides Cash prize of Rs 10,00,000 per category winner. The current deadline is 20 November 2026. Last verified against the official page on 2 November 2026.
Key facts
| Amount / benefit | Cash prize of Rs 10,00,000 per category winner (National/international recognition, pilot project and work-order opportunities, priority access to DPIIT startup events) |
|---|---|
| Provider | DPIIT / Startup India, Ministry of Commerce and Industry |
| Where | Pan-India |
| Deadline | 20 November 2026 |
| Prize per category winner | Rs 10,00,000 |
| Maximum categories per applicant | 2 |
| Incorporation age limit | Must not complete 10 years of incorporation by the edition cut-off date (e.g., March 31, 2024 for NSA 2023) |
| First edition concluded | October 2020 |
| Award categories (recent edition) | 20 categories |
What is National Startup Awards?
The National Startup Awards (NSA) is a recognition scheme run by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to identify and reward outstanding DPIIT-recognized startups and ecosystem enablers building innovative, scalable solutions. It recognizes startups with high potential for employment generation, wealth creation, and measurable social impact across award categories such as Women-Led Innovation, Rural Impact, NextGen Innovator, Sustainability Champion, and others. The instrument is a cash prize/grant of Rs 10 lakh awarded to one winning startup in each award category, along with non-monetary recognition benefits. The first edition concluded in October 2020, and the awards have since been held in subsequent editions (e.g., NSA 2022, 2023, NSA 5.0/2025), each running as a time-bound annual application cycle rather than a continuous scheme. It is run by DPIIT / Startup India, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
This is an official recognition or status that, once granted, unlocks eligibility for a range of other benefits and relaxations. The amount and form of support that actually apply to you depend on the programme’s rules and how your application is assessed — they are not fixed for every applicant.
Like most government programmes, it has its own eligibility conditions, documentation and application window, and these terms are revised from time to time. Because of that, it is worth confirming the current eligibility, amount and deadline on the official programme page before you invest time in applying.
Who is eligible for National Startup Awards?
DPIIT-recognized startups with a market-ready hardware/software product or process solution, holding applicable trade-specific registrations, with no default by the entity/promoters/group entities in the last three financial years, and not completing 10 years of incorporation by the relevant cut-off date (e.g., March 31, 2024 for NSA 2023).
How much does National Startup Awards give, and in what form?
Cash prize of Rs 10,00,000 per category winner, as national/international recognition, pilot project and work-order opportunities, priority access to DPIIT startup events.
Startups register on the Startup India portal and obtain DPIIT recognition, then apply online under the National Startup Awards tab during the open application window, selecting up to 2 award categories and submitting a detailed participation form with supporting documents; a jury and independent evaluation agency review and select finalists and winners, with finalists potentially subject to legal due diligence.
How to apply for National Startup Awards
- Register on Startup India and obtain DPIIT recognition (ensure registration details are correct as they auto-populate the form)
- Go to the 'National Startup Awards' tab on the Startup India website
- Click on 'Apply for National Startup Awards' for the current edition
- Click 'Apply' under the application countdown and select the category (max 2 categories) using the registered DPIIT startup account
- Check the auto-populated details in the participation form
- Fill in the required details in the application form
- Prepare all required documents for upload
- Ensure uploads comply with the specified size requirements
- Click 'Submit'
Documents required for National Startup Awards
- Certificate of Recognition issued by DPIIT
- Certificate of Incorporation / Certificate from the Registrar of Firms
- Memorandum of Association, Partnership deed or other proof for a woman founder (if applicable)
- PAN card for founder/co-founder
- Aadhar card for founder/co-founder
- Startup Pitch Deck (not more than 10 slides)
- Trade-specific registrations
- Proof of Patent/IPR (if applicable)
- Audited financial statements for the past 3 years (P&L, Balance Sheet, ITR) or provisional CA-issued statements if audited financials unavailable
- Category-specific supporting documents/MOUs/agreements (e.g., admission/graduation proof for NextGen Innovator, manufacturing/ownership proof for Indigenous Ingenuity Champion)
- 120-second original video explaining the product/service covering business model, scalability, innovation, and social & economic impact
- Self-attested proof of active users, employees hired, R&D/prototype development, funding raised, and TRL level (if applicable)
Frequently asked questions
What are the National Startup Awards?
A DPIIT/Startup India scheme recognizing and rewarding DPIIT-recognized startups with innovative, scalable, and impactful solutions across multiple award categories.
Who can apply for the National Startup Awards?
DPIIT-recognized startups meeting the eligibility criteria (market-ready product, required registrations, no defaults, incorporation age limit) can apply.
Is there a caste-related eligibility criteria in this scheme?
No, the scheme's listed eligibility criteria on the official page do not include a caste-based requirement.
Can an applicant fill the application form in a language other than English?
No, the award application form must be filled in English only.
Can an applicant apply in multiple categories?
Yes, one startup can nominate itself in a maximum of 2 categories.
Can an applicant apply if they were already a past winner?
No, startups declared winners under any category in a previous edition are not eligible, though past finalists may apply again.
Related programmes
CapEasy handles this under Fundraising advisory. CapEasy handles this under Startup India and DPIIT recognition.
Source and verification
Official programme page: myscheme.gov.in. Last verified 2 November 2026. Government programmes change — confirm current eligibility, amounts and deadlines on the official programme page before you apply. CapEasy is a private consultancy and is not affiliated with any government authority.