The Startup India awards return for a sixth edition with a wider sector list, three special categories and a Rs 25 lakh cash prize for each eligible winner.

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• The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade launched the 6th National Startup Awards (NSA 6.0) in October 2026 under the Startup India initiative.
• DPIIT works under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• The awards recognise innovation, entrepreneurship and outstanding contributions to India's startup ecosystem.
• This edition covers 20 sectoral categories and three special categories, including 12 newly introduced sectors.
• Winners in each eligible startup category will receive a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh.
• The special categories are Women-Led Startup of the Year, North-East Startup Excellence and the new Student Innovator or Aspiring Entrepreneur Award.
• The awards aim to encourage greater participation from startups in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities across India.
• The National Startup Awards were introduced in 2019 under Startup India and have completed five editions so far.
• DPIIT had recognised 2,01,335 startups as of November 2025.