DPIIT Eligibility 2026: सामान्य Startup और DeepTech Criteria

The official February 2026 announcement revised the startup-recognition framework, including the general turnover threshold and a distinct DeepTech category. It describes a general ten-year/₹200-crore framework and a DeepTech twenty-year/₹300-crore framework, subject to the notification’s precise conditions and definitions. Eligible cooperative entities are also addressed. ^{[1] [2]}

Read the full eligibility test

Check the entity form, relevant incorporation/registration date, turnover history, innovation/scalability and exclusions. A numerical threshold is only part of the assessment. Use the notification’s exact wording on turnover and period rather than assuming a single latest-year figure is sufficient.

Substantiate a DeepTech claim

Do not select DeepTech solely because the business uses software or AI. Examine the official definition and evidence expectations for the underlying technology, research and business model. Keep technical and commercial evidence consistent with the application. Separate recognition eligibility from the conditions of any tax or funding benefit.

Practical preparation checklist

• Current notification and eligible entity form.
• Age/date and complete relevant turnover history.
• Innovation/scalability and exclusion analysis.
• DeepTech-definition evidence where that category is claimed.

Illustrative example

A conventional service business uses an off-the-shelf AI tool. That fact alone does not establish DeepTech recognition. Its application must meet the actual category requirements rather than rely on fashionable terminology.

Avoid this mistake

Do not reuse pre-2026 eligibility summaries without checking the revised rules. This is a framework overview, not a certificate of eligibility. Where a boundary or category interpretation matters, retain the notification and obtain an application-specific assessment.