Are you ready?: National Startup Awards 5.0 Is Here

July 15, 2025

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Why In The News?

The fifth edition of the National Startup Awards is here.

Started as an initiative by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), The National Startup Award 5.0 aims to celebrate and empower startups that drive innovation, sustainability, and social impact, contributing to India’s growth journey toward becoming a “Viksit Bharat”.

The vision of these awards is to recognize that India is a country that is growing world-wide in the startup ecosystem and is positioning itself amongst the top 3. India is recognizing the need to be Atmanirbhar and is providing an accelerator to startup eco systems by providing them with recognition.

This was originally launched in 2020 to recognise those startups that were accelerating in the field of sustainability.

In 2020, there were 1641 applications as compared to 2023, when the applications amounted to 2335.

National Startup Awards 5.0

“Startups applying to NSA are evaluated through a rigorous multi-stage process involving eligibility screening, sectoral shortlisting, and assessment by expert panels comprising industry leaders, investors, academicians, and government officials. DPIIT leads the execution, with active involvement from concerned ministries and departments to ensure that winners reflect national priorities and sectoral diversity,” said the ministry.

The fifth edition includes 20 categories, and DPIIT-Recognised Startups and stakeholders registered under the Bharat Registry can apply under various categories of the National Startup Awards 5.0.

A startup can apply to a maximum of 2 categories. Some of the categories are as follows:

Women‑led Innovator
Impact in Rural Areas
Make in India Excellence
Innovation Trailblazers (North‑East & hilly states)

Each winning startup is awarded a ₹10 lakh cash prize, along with access to exclusive mentorship, investor connections, market opportunities, and national visibility at government-hosted startup events.

Eligible startups must be DPIIT-recognized and no older than 10 years as of the application deadline. They must have a product or process already in the market and be compliant with all sector-specific certifications and registrations. Startups with a proven track record of innovation, financial transparency, and no defaults in the last three financial years are considered. Past category winners are not eligible, although finalists can apply again.

NSA 5.0 also serves as a powerful platform to connect founders with key ecosystem enablers, build public trust, and open doors to potential collaborations with government and industry stakeholders.

How to Apply?

Step 1: Visit the Startup India Portal.

Step 2: Log in or create an account (use the founder or startup credentials).

Step 3: Go to the NSA 5.0 section from the homepage or announcements tab.

Step 4: Select up to 2 award categories you want to apply for.

Step 5: Fill in the online application form for each category.

Step 6: Upload all required documents and details

Credit for header image: Startup India
[This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. This has been constituted based on third-party sources. We do not assume any liability for actions taken based on this information.]