Over 1.97 Lakh Startups Registered on BHASKAR Platform: Government

New Delhi: The government has reported that a total of 1,97,932 entities have registered under the ‘startup’ category on the BHASKAR platform as of June 30.

The Bharat Startup Knowledge Access Registry (BHASKAR) serves as a digital hub to promote collaboration within India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, including among startups, incubators, accelerators, and other stakeholders.

Currently in its pilot phase, BHASKAR is testing several features such as peer-to-peer interaction, partnership facilitation, stakeholder-specific identification, and integration of micro-sites to implement various schemes under the Startup India initiative.

In a written response in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Jitin Prasada, stated that the government is actively conducting outreach and awareness programs across States and Union Territories to understand the needs and experiences of key stakeholders—especially small and micro-enterprises.

“These efforts include targeted outreach to States/UTs, informational sessions at workshops and events, and promotion via social media. The initiatives are being carried out in collaboration with State Startup Nodal Agencies, incubators, accelerators, educational institutions, and other ecosystem partners,” the minister noted.

Additionally, the government recently announced that a net commitment of Rs 9,994 crore has been made to 141 Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) under the Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) scheme as of June 30. The goal is to build a robust ecosystem for innovation and startup growth.

Under the broader Startup India initiative, the government is implementing three key schemes:

• Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS): Managed by SIDBI, this scheme provides capital to SEBI-registered AIFs, which then invest in startups.

• Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS): Offers financial support to early-stage startups through incubators. So far, Rs 945 crore has been approved for 219 incubators.

• Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS): Aims to facilitate credit access for startups.

With inputs from IANS