National Startup Awards 6.0: Northeast startups can win Rs 25 lakh

Startups from the North Eastern Region have a category of their own in the sixth edition of the National Startup Awards (NSA 6.0), and the winner will take home a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh. Applications close on November 20, 2026.

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry launched NSA 6.0 in New Delhi on October 27 under the Startup India initiative, according to a Press Information Bureau release.

Three special categories

Besides 20 sectoral categories, this edition has three special award categories:

• Women-Led Startup of the Year
• North-East Startup Excellence Award
• Student Innovator / Aspiring Entrepreneur Award (new this year)

The winner in each of the 20 sectoral categories, and in the women-led and North-East categories, is eligible for Rs 25 lakh, subject to the award guidelines. The student award has a combined prize pool of Rs 25 lakh spread across four age-based sub-categories, from school students aged 10 to adults above 18, according to the Startup India portal.

Twelve sectoral categories are new this year, among them biomanufacturing, consumer industries, defence and security, rural economy and traditional industries, and education and skilling. DPIIT Secretary Amardeep Singh said at the launch that the awards look at social impact, sustainability and scalability, not just commercial success, All India Radio reported.

Who can apply

Under the NSA 6.0 guidelines, applicants must:

• Be startups recognised by DPIIT and registered on the Startup India portal, with a valid recognition certificate.
• Submit audited financial statements for 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26. Firms younger than three years submit what they have, and startups under a year old without audited accounts are exempt. A chartered accountant's provisional statement is accepted where 2025-26 audited accounts are not ready.
• Not have completed ten years from incorporation by the application deadline.

A startup can apply in up to three categories. Previous NSA winners in any category are not eligible again, and firms facing insolvency or winding-up proceedings are excluded. The jury may choose not to give an award in a category if it finds no deserving applicant.

How to apply

Applications are submitted online on the Startup India portal (startupindia.gov.in), which also carries the full guidelines for each category. The portal's helpline is 1800 115 565, working hours 10 am to 5:30 pm.

DPIIT says more than 2.25 lakh startups have been recognised since Startup India began in 2016.