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Founder guide · India

How to get DPIIT startup recognition in India

DPIIT startup recognition is a certificate issued by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade. It unlocks tax exemptions, easier compliance, IPR fast-tracking, and government procurement benefits for eligible startups in India.

Last checked 16 October 2026 against 4 official pages · 3 min read

10 years
Startup age limit
INR 200 Cr
Turnover limit
3 years
Tax holiday duration
NSWS.gov.in
Application portal

What is DPIIT startup recognition

DPIIT startup recognition is a certificate issued by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade under the Startup India initiative. It identifies eligible startups working on innovation, employment generation, or wealth creation.

The recognition is mandatory to access benefits like tax exemptions, self-certification under labour and environmental laws, fast-tracked IPR applications, and easier public procurement norms.

Who is eligible for DPIIT recognition

An entity must meet all these criteria to qualify as a startup:

Company type: Incorporated as a Private Limited Company, Registered Partnership Firm, Limited Liability Partnership, or Cooperative Society.

Age: The entity must be within 10 years from the date of incorporation (20 years for DeepTech startups).

Turnover: Annual turnover must not exceed INR 200 crores in any financial year since incorporation (INR 300 crores for DeepTech startups).

Innovation: The entity must work towards innovation, improvement of existing products, services, or processes, and have potential for employment or wealth creation.

Original entity: The entity must not be formed by splitting up or reconstructing an existing business.

Documents needed for DPIIT recognition

Confirm the exact documents on the NSWS portal before applying. Rules may change; always refer to the official page.

How to apply for DPIIT recognition on NSWS

DPIIT startup recognition is applied for through the National Single Window System (nsws.gov.in). Follow these steps:

Create an investor account on nsws.gov.in if you don’t already have one.

Log in to your NSWS dashboard and click 'Add Approvals' > 'Central Approvals'.

Find the 'Registration as a Startup' application and add it to your dashboard.

Fill in the required details and submit the application.

  • Use only your own email and mobile number for the application.
  • No fee is charged for DPIIT recognition.
  • DPIIT does not appoint any agency or representative for this process.

What DPIIT recognition unlocks

DPIIT recognised startups can access these benefits:

Self-certification: Startups can self-certify compliance with 6 labour laws and 3 environmental laws for 5 years. Inspections occur only on receipt of a credible, written complaint approved by a senior officer.

Patent and IPR support: Fast-tracked patent applications, 80% rebate on filing fees, and a panel of facilitators to assist with IPR filings. The government bears the facilitator fees; startups pay only statutory fees.

Tax exemption under 80IAC: Eligible startups can apply for a tax holiday for 3 consecutive financial years out of their first 10 years. Only Private Limited Companies or LLPs incorporated after 1 April 2016 qualify.

Easier winding up: Startups with simple debt structures can wind up within 90 days under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.

Public procurement benefits: Exemption from prior experience or turnover criteria, exemption from Earnest Money Deposit (EMD), and opportunity to list products on Government e-Marketplace (GeM).

How to apply for 80IAC tax exemption

After obtaining DPIIT recognition, startups can apply for 80IAC tax exemption on the Startup India portal. The process is:

Register on the Startup India portal if not already registered.

Apply for the 80IAC exemption form and fill in details with the required documents.

Submit the application and monitor its status on your Startup India dashboard.

  • Required documents: Memorandum of Association (for Pvt Ltd) or LLP Deed, Board Resolution (if any), annual accounts for the last three financial years, income tax returns for the last three financial years.

How to verify or download your DPIIT certificate

DPIIT recognition certificates can be verified or downloaded through the Startup India portal or DigiLocker.

On the Startup India portal, select 'Certificate of Recognition' or 'Certificate of Eligibility', enter the certificate number (e.g., DIPP260) and entity name, then verify or download.

Certificates are also available on DigiLocker. Follow the quick guide linked on the Startup India portal for instructions.

Step by step

  1. 1

    Add the 'Registration as a Startup' application

    Log in to NSWS, click 'Add Approvals' > 'Central Approvals', and select 'Registration as a Startup'. Add it to your dashboard.

  2. 2

    Fill and submit the application

    No fee is required.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a fee for DPIIT startup recognition?
No. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry does not charge any fee for DPIIT recognition or eligibility certificates.
Can a startup apply for 80IAC tax exemption before DPIIT recognition?
No. Only DPIIT recognised startups can apply for 80IAC tax exemption.
What is the turnover limit for DeepTech startups?
DeepTech startups can have an annual turnover of up to INR 300 crores in any financial year, as per the official pages.

Official sources

Rules and amounts change. Check these before you apply.

How this guide was made: StartupReader wrote it with AI from the official pages above, read on 16 October 2026. Every figure and name in it was checked automatically against those pages, and anything they don't support was left out. It's re-checked every month. It isn't affiliated with the program. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.