Introduction
On 04 February 2026, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (“DPIIT”) issued a notification (“2026 Notification”) (to access the notification please click here), superseding its earlier “Startup” notification dated 19 February 2019 (“2019 Notification”) (to read our FAQs on Startups in India, based on the 2019 Notification, please click here).
The 2026 Notification inter alia has broadened the definition of “Startup”, introduced a distinct category for “Deep Tech Startups”, and incorporated specific fund utilisation and investment conditions in the recognition framework.
In this update, we outline the key changes introduced under the 2026 Notification and share our perspectives on their implications.
