4 February 2026·PIB

PARLIAMENT QUESTION: START-UPS IN TECHNOLOGY SECTOR

In this note

1. At a Glance

A Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha reply (04 Feb 2026) by the Ministry of Science & Technology outlining government measures for tech start-ups, anchored by the new Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme [1].
Marks convergence of three policy streams: Startup India (DPIIT), MeitY tech-incubation, and DST-led deep-tech financing [1][4][5].
Relevant for UPSC for GS-III (economy, S&T, indigenisation, innovation ecosystem) and prelims-grade scheme facts (corpus, nodal dept, sectors).

04 Feb 2026 Parliament reply by MoS&T highlighting the ₹1 lakh crore RDI scheme for deep-tech start-ups [1].
Follows Cabinet approval (01 July 2025) and PM launch (03 Nov 2025) of the RDI Scheme [2].
Cumulative DPIIT recognition crossed 2.12 lakh start-ups as of 31 Jan 2026 [4].

2016: Launch of Startup India initiative by DPIIT (16 Jan 2016) — recognition framework, tax/IPR benefits [3].
2016: Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) — SIDBI-operated, ₹10,000 cr corpus [1].
2021: Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) [1].
2022: Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS) [1].
2025: Cabinet approves RDI Scheme (01 Jul 2025); operationalised 03 Nov 2025 [2].

Nodal department for RDI: Department of Science & Technology (DST), Ministry of Science & Technology [1][2].
RDI outlay: ₹1,00,000 crore over 6 years; ₹20,000 crore for FY 2025-26 from Consolidated Fund of India [2].
RDI objectives: scale private-sector R&D; long-tenor low/nil-interest financing; acquisition of strategically critical technologies; create Deep-Tech Fund of Funds [1][2].
Sunrise sectors covered: quantum computing, robotics, space tech, biotech/synthetic biology, pharma/medical devices, AI applications (agri/health/edu), energy transition/climate action, digital economy [2].
MeitY schemes for deep-tech: TIDE 2.0 (Technology Incubation and Development of Entrepreneurs) and GENESIS (Gen-Next Support for Innovative Startup) [1].
DPIIT-recognised start-ups: 2,12,283 as of 31 Jan 2026; >1 lakh have at least one woman director [4].
Flagship financing trio: FFS, SISFS, CGSS — covering seed → growth → debt-guarantee stages [1].

Economic: ₹1 lakh cr RDI is largest single-window R&D push; targets India's chronically low GERD (~0.65% of GDP) and private-sector R&D share (~37% vs OECD ~70%) [2].
Scientific/Technological: Explicit focus on deep-tech (quantum, AI, biotech, space) signals shift from consumer-internet to frontier-tech start-ups [2].
Geopolitical/Strategic: Provision to acquire critical/strategically important technologies aligns with self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) and counters supply-chain dependence [1][2].
Administrative: Multi-ministry architecture — DPIIT (recognition), DST (RDI), MeitY (incubation) — risks fragmentation; nodal coordination via Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) envisaged [2].
Social: Over 1 lakh DPIIT-recognised start-ups have a woman director/partner — gender-inclusivity dimension [4].

01 Jul 2025: Union Cabinet approves RDI Scheme [2].
03 Nov 2025: PM launches RDI Scheme [2].
31 Jan 2026: DPIIT recognition tally reaches 2,12,283 start-ups [4].
04 Feb 2026: MoS&T Parliament reply consolidates the start-up ecosystem position [1].

RDI Scheme outlay: ₹1 lakh crore over 6 years [2].
RDI nodal department: DST (not DPIIT, not MeitY) [1].
RDI FY 2025-26 allocation: ₹20,000 crore from Consolidated Fund of India [2].
RDI Scheme will set up a Deep-Tech Fund of Funds [1].
TIDE 2.0 and GENESIS are MeitY schemes (not DST) [1].
Startup India launched on 16 January 2016 by DPIIT [3].
FFS is operated by SIDBI [1].
DPIIT-recognised start-ups: 2,12,283 as of 31 Jan 2026 [4].
Cabinet approval date for RDI: 01 July 2025; launched by PM on 03 November 2025 [2].
Sunrise sectors under RDI include quantum computing, space, AI, biotech, energy transition [2].

GS-III — Science & Technology; Indian Economy (growth, employment); Indigenization of tech.
Syllabus: "Achievements of Indians in S&T; indigenization of technology and developing new technology" and "Effects of liberalization on the economy".
Plausible stems:
"India's deep-tech start-up ecosystem suffers more from a financing gap than an idea gap. Critically examine in light of the RDI Scheme, 2025."
"Discuss the institutional architecture for promoting start-ups in India and the rationale for a dedicated Deep-Tech Fund of Funds."
"How can private sector R&D be incentivised to bridge India's GERD gap? Evaluate recent measures."

Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) Act, 2023 — umbrella body for research funding.
Startup India Action Plan, 2016 — original policy scaffold.
National Deep Tech Startup Policy (NDTSP) — sector-specific framework.
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) — NITI Aayog innovation arm.
Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) — SIDBI-managed corpus.
India AI Mission (2024) — MeitY's parallel deep-tech push.
Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes — complementary manufacturing push.
GERD (Gross Expenditure on R&D) — macro indicator context.

Nodal ministry confusion: RDI is under DST (M/o S&T), NOT DPIIT or MeitY.
TIDE/GENESIS belong to MeitY, not DST — frequent swap trap.
RDI outlay is ₹1 lakh cr over 6 years, not annual.
FFS does NOT invest directly in start-ups — it invests in SEBI-registered AIFs which then fund start-ups.
Startup India was launched 16 Jan 2016 (not 2015 or budget date).