Startup India Registration - Get DPIIT Recognition

DPIIT recognition is a certification from the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade that formally qualifies your Private Limited Company, LLP, or Partnership Firm as a 'startup' - unlocking tax benefits, self-certification, patent fee rebates, and access to government funding schemes under the Startup India initiative.

Yes, the government charges no fee for DPIIT recognition itself. It is filed directly on the Startup India portal (startupindia.gov.in). Professional service fees, like ours, cover drafting a strong innovation note and handling the application correctly.

DPIIT recognition is the base certification confirming startup status - it is required for all Startup India benefits. The Section 80-IAC income tax exemption is a separate, optional application reviewed by the Inter-Ministerial Board, filed after you already have DPIIT recognition, and is not automatically granted.

A Private Limited Company, LLP, or registered Partnership Firm that is not more than 10 years old, has not exceeded ₹100 crore turnover in any financial year, is working towards genuine innovation or a scalable business model, and was not formed by splitting or reconstructing an existing business.

No. Only registered entities - Private Limited Companies, LLPs, and registered Partnership Firms - are eligible. Sole proprietorships and unregistered partnerships do not qualify and must first register as one of the eligible entity types.

Typically 2-7 working days if the innovation note and documents are in order. If the reviewer raises a clarification query, the timeline extends until you respond - which is why a well-written innovation note on the first attempt matters.

Certificate of Incorporation or registration, PAN of the entity, details of directors or partners, and a written innovation note describing your product, process, or business model. A pitch deck or website link strengthens the application but is not mandatory for recognition itself.

Two main benefits: income tax exemption for 3 consecutive years out of the first 10 years under Section 80-IAC (needs separate IMB approval), and exemption from angel tax on qualifying investments from resident angel investors under Section 56(2)(viib).

SISFS provides financial assistance to DPIIT-recognised startups for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, and market entry - up to ₹20 lakh as a grant, and further funding of ₹50 lakh to ₹5 crore through convertible debentures or debt for scaling, disbursed via approved incubators.

Yes. Recognised startups get an 80% rebate on patent filing fees and 50% rebate on trademark filing fees, along with fast-track examination of patent applications - reducing both cost and time compared to a non-recognised entity.

DPIIT-recognised startups can self-certify compliance under 6 labour laws (like the Payment of Gratuity Act, EPF Act) and 3 environmental laws for 5 years from incorporation, avoiding routine physical inspections unless a credible, verifiable complaint is filed.

No. The 10-year window from the date of incorporation is a hard limit with no exceptions, regardless of how innovative the business is. Once the entity crosses 10 years, it becomes permanently ineligible for DPIIT recognition.

You can reapply after addressing the specific reasons cited - most commonly a weak or generic innovation note. Our AI rejection review tool below can help you understand a rejection notice and identify exactly what to fix before resubmitting.

No, it is not mandatory to raise funding, but it materially helps. DPIIT recognition is a prerequisite for the government's Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) and SISFS, and it signals credibility to private investors, particularly for the angel tax exemption on their investment.

The entity must be incorporated in India as a Private Limited Company, LLP, or Partnership Firm to be eligible, regardless of the nationality of its shareholders or partners. Foreign direct investment in the Indian entity does not by itself disqualify it, as long as all other eligibility criteria are met.