DPIIT Launches 6th Edition of National Startup Awards to Recognise Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has launched the 6th edition of the National Startup Awards (NSA 6.0) under the Startup India initiative. Celebrating ten years of Startup India, NSA 6.0 aims to recognise innovation, entrepreneurship, scalability, sustainability, and socio-economic impact. The awards span 20 sectoral categories—including 12 newly introduced sectors like Biomanufacturing, Defence & Security, and Space-Tech—and three special categories, which now feature a Student Innovator / Aspiring Entrepreneur Award. Eligible winners across sectoral and startup categories can receive a cash prize of ₹25 lakh per category, alongside mentorship, market access, and investor engagement. Applications are open from 27 October to 20 November 2026.