Piyush Goyal Launches BHASKAR – A Digital Platform to Boost India’s Startup Ecosystem

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal launched the Bharat Startup Knowledge Access Registry (BHASKAR) to connect Startups, Investors, and Mentors Nationwide. On September 16, a digital platform was designed to strengthen and support India’s growing startup ecosystem. It was developed by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Startup India initiative. BHASKAR aims to facilitate collaboration among key stakeholders, including startups, investors, government bodies, mentors, and more.

Facilitating Growth Beyond Metro Cities

At the launch event, Goyal emphasized the platform’s role in providing entrepreneurs from beyond metro cities equal access to capital, technology, information, and resources essential for their startup ventures. He stated, “BHASKAR will help the players involved in the startup ecosystem connect, collaborate, and compete with each other. This platform is set to kickstart an ambitious revolution in India’s startup journey.“

To join the platform, users must register their ventures to generate a Bhaskar ID, allowing them to access critical resources and opportunities. As of September 15, over 4.59 lakh users have already registered on BHASKAR.

Streamlining India’s Startup Ecosystem

In addition to the platform’s launch, Goyal proposed establishing BHASKAR and Startup India as a Section 8 company, a non-profit entity. This move would allow the National Startup Advisory Council to be part of the new company and offer startups direct engagement with the government. Goyal suggested, “Key startups could even be issued shares in the Section 8 company, ensuring they have a stake in India’s vibrant startup ecosystem.“

This shift aims to give India’s startup community more agility and direct access to government support, making the ecosystem more responsive to startup needs.

DPIIT’s Vision for Expanding India’s Startup Footprint

Speaking at the event, Sanjeev, DPIIT Joint Secretary, highlighted the progress made in India’s startup landscape. He noted that over 1.46 lakh startups are currently registered, with the department aiming to raise this number to 50 lakh in the coming years. Remarkably, 84 districts that previously had no startup activity have seen new ventures emerge in the past six months.

By January 2025, DPIIT aims to have at least one startup in every district across India. Sanjeev stated that only three districts—located in Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, and Manipur—are yet to see any startup activity.

A New Chapter for India’s Startup Ecosystem

BHASKAR marks the second startup registry launched by the government in 2024, following the Bharat Startup Ecosystem Registry introduced earlier this year. However, BHASKAR offers additional features, such as searchability and data cleaning, and ensures only active startups remain listed through an annual renewal process.

With its launch, BHASKAR is expected to bring together entrepreneurs, investors, and enablers, fostering a more connected, collaborative, and competitive Indian startup ecosystem.