The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) launched the sixth edition of the National Startup Awards, NSA 6.0, in New Delhi on 27 October 2026. The awards form part of the Startup India initiative, launched in January 2016.
Categories and Applications
NSA 6.0 has 20 sectoral categories and three special award categories. Twelve sectoral categories are new, including biomanufacturing, defence and security, electronics, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, and space technology. The special categories are Women-Led Startup of the Year, North-East Startup Excellence and the Student Innovator Award, which recognises student innovators and aspiring entrepreneurs. Applications opened on 27 October 2026 and close on 20 November 2026. Startups can submit applications through the official Startup India portal.
Prizes and Award Objectives
Winners in each sectoral category and in the two startup-focused special categories are eligible for a cash prize of ₹25 lakh. The Student Innovator Award has a combined prize pool of ₹25 lakh, distributed across four sub-categories. The awards recognise startups for innovation, scalability, sustainability and socio-economic impact. They also provide avenues for mentorship, investor engagement and market access. DPIIT Secretary Amardeep Singh said the government is working to use procurement processes to promote startups.
Startup India and DPIIT
Startup India is a Government of India initiative launched in January 2016. DPIIT, which operates under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, administers policies relating to industrial development and the promotion of internal trade. The launch of NSA 6.0 in 2026 marks ten years since the start of Startup India. Public procurement is the purchase of goods and services by government bodies. The government’s focus on procurement as a means of promoting startups forms part of the context for the awards’ market-access objective.
Important Facts for Exams
- DPIIT operates under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- Startup India began in January 2016.
- NSA 6.0 includes 20 sectoral categories and three special award categories.
- The Student Innovator Award’s ₹25 lakh prize pool is divided among four sub-categories.
The NSA 6.0 application window runs from 27 October to 20 November 2026. The awards include categories covering sectors such as semiconductors, biomanufacturing and space technology.</final
