What are the DPIIT recognition criteria?

Your entity must be a Pvt Ltd or LLP, less than 10 years old, turnover < ₹100 Cr, working on innovation/scalable business, and not formed by splitting an existing business. All five must be met.

How long does DPIIT recognition take?

Typically 2–4 weeks after submitting the application on startupindia.gov.in. The timeline depends on documentation completeness and the nodal officer's review queue.

Can a partnership firm or proprietorship get DPIIT recognition?

No. Only Private Limited Companies and LLPs are eligible. Partnership firms and proprietorships do not qualify, though there have been discussions about expanding eligibility.

DPIIT Recognition Eligibility Checker

Pre-flight check for DPIIT recognition. See if your startup meets all five criteria — entity type, age, turnover, innovation, and not formed by splitting an existing business.

Entity type

Only Private Limited Company or LLP qualifies for DPIIT recognition.

Year of incorporation

Your company's incorporation year as per the Certificate of Incorporation.

Annual turnover (any financial year since incorporation)

₹

Turnover must NOT exceed ₹100 Cr in any financial year since incorporation.

₹5 crores

Working on innovation / scalable business?

DPIIT requires the startup to be working on innovation, development, or a scalable business model with employment/wealth creation potential.

Not formed by splitting / reconstructing an existing business?

DPIIT does not recognise startups formed by splitting or reconstructing an existing business.

DPIIT recognition eligibility

Eligible — proceed with application

Your startup meets all DPIIT criteria. You can apply on the Startup India portal.

✓ Private Limited CompanyPassed

✓ 2 years oldPassed

✓ ₹5.0 CrPassed

✓ Engaged in innovation or a scalable business modelPassed

✓ Not formed by splitting/reconstructionPassed

Next stepsApply on startupindia.gov.in

Private Limited Company — eligible.

Estimates only — not financial, tax or legal advice. Figures vary by state, capital and individual circumstances.

Get DPIIT-recognised — done for you

Our team handles your DPIIT registration end to end, from document preparation to nodal officer follow-up.

Get DPIIT-recognised — unlock benefits

DPIIT recognition unlocks angel tax exemption, 80-IAC tax holiday, and dozens of grants. We can handle the application.

Get DPIIT help

How to use this calculator

Answer five quick questions about your startup to see if you meet the DPIIT recognition criteria — and what to fix if you don't.

1
Select entity type. DPIIT recognises only Private Limited Companies and LLPs.
2
Enter year of incorporation. Your startup must be within 10 years of incorporation from the date of application.
3
Enter annual turnover. Should not exceed ₹100 Cr in any financial year since incorporation.
4
Answer the criteria questions. Indicate if you're working on innovation and not formed by splitting an existing business.
5
Read your eligibility result. See a pass/fail for each criterion and clear next steps.

What is DPIIT recognition?

DPIIT (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade) recognition is the official 'startup tag' in India. It's a certification by the government that your business qualifies as a startup under the Startup India initiative. It is the gateway to a range of tax benefits, funding access, and compliance relaxations.

Exemption from angel tax under Section 56(2)(viib).
Three-year tax holiday under Section 80-IAC (100% profit deduction).
MAT holiday for the first 5 years.
Self-certification under 6 labour laws and 3 environmental laws.
Access to the ₹10,000 Cr Fund of Funds (via SEBI-registered AIFs).
Fast-track IPR application processing (80% rebate on patent filing, 50% on trademark).
Priority in government procurement (relaxed turnover/experience norms).

DPIIT eligibility criteria (as of 2025–26)

To be recognised as a DPIIT startup, your business must meet all of these criteria:

Entity type: Private Limited Company or Limited Liability Partnership (LLP).
Age: Less than 10 years from the date of incorporation.
Turnover: Annual turnover not exceeding ₹100 Cr in any financial year since incorporation.
Innovation: Working on innovation, development, or improvement of products/processes/services, OR a scalable business model with high potential for employment or wealth creation.
Original entity: Not formed by splitting or reconstructing an existing business.

How to apply for DPIIT recognition

The application is entirely online through the Startup India portal (startupindia.gov.in):

Register on the Startup India portal with your entity details.
Upload your pitch deck, Certificate of Incorporation, and any supporting documents.
Fill out the DPIIT recognition form with details about your innovation, team, and business model.
Submit for review. A DPIIT nodal officer reviews the application.
Recognition is typically granted within 2–4 weeks if all documents are in order.

DPIIT recognition does not expire but must be maintained. Changes in turnover, entity type, or major business pivots should be updated. Recognition can be revoked if the startup ceases to meet the criteria.

Common reasons for rejection

Entity type is a partnership firm or proprietorship — only Pvt Ltd or LLP qualify.
Turnover exceeded ₹100 Cr in a previous financial year.
The application lacks sufficient evidence of innovation — a generic pitch deck without clear differentiation.
The business is a conventional retail, trading, or real estate operation without a scalable technology or innovation component.
The entity was formed by splitting an existing business specifically to claim startup benefits.
Incomplete documentation — missing incorporation certificate, pitch deck, or director details.