National Startup Awards 6.0 Launched With 20 Sectoral Categories

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has opened the sixth edition of the National Startup Awards (NSA 6.0). The awards run under the Startup India initiative and are meant to pick out ventures that stand out for innovation, scale, sustainability and social and economic impact.

Ten years of Startup India

The timing carries weight: 2026 completes ten years of Startup India, which was launched in January 2016. The awards themselves began in 2019 and have since become the flagship recognition under that initiative. Five editions have been held so far.

Categories in this edition

NSA 6.0 will give awards in 20 sectoral categories and three special categories. Twelve of the sectoral categories are new, among them Biomanufacturing, Consumer Industries, Defence and Security, Rural Economy, Traditional Industries and Livelihoods, Education and Skilling, Electronics, Semiconductors and Advanced Manufacturing, Sports, Fitness and Sports-Tech, Future Mobility and Automotive, Ocean and Blue Economy, Space-Tech, Drones and Aerospace, Telecom, Connectivity and Digital Infrastructure, and Travel, Tourism and Hospitality.

The special categories

• Women-Led Startup of the Year.
• North-East Startup Excellence, for ventures from the North-Eastern region.
• Student Innovator or Aspiring Entrepreneur Award, introduced for the first time and open to school and college students across all 36 States and Union Territories.

Prize money and dates

Winners in the 20 sectoral categories and in the two startup-focused special categories are eligible for a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh for each category, subject to the award guidelines. The Student Innovator Award carries a total pool of Rs 25 lakh spread across four sub-categories. Beyond the money, winners are offered mentorship, investor connections, market access, industry tie-ups and visibility within the ecosystem.

Applications opened on 27 October 2026 and will stay open until 20 November 2026, and are filed through the Startup India portal. DPIIT plans to reach startups in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities as well, working with central ministries, state and union territory governments, incubators, academic institutions, banks, Alternative Investment Funds and industry associations for outreach and evaluation.