5 months on, Chandigarh Startup Policy remains on paper

Even after more than five months, the UT’s Startup Policy remains on paper. Young entrepreneurs are unable to avail of various facilities under the policy as the launch of an e-portal has been stuck at the administrative level.

The UT Administration had on April 29 notified the Chandigarh Startup Policy-2025 with the aim of supporting talented and tech-driven youth and making the City Beautiful a ‘startup hub’ like Pune, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad.

According to officials, the much-awaited startup portal would be launched after getting approval from the High Powered Committee (HPC) headed by the Chief Secretary.

The officials said UT Chief Secretary H Rajesh Prasad recently assumed charge and the issue would be taken up with him at the earliest, so that startup registrations can be started. The portal could be launched most probably by the end of this month, they added.

The officials said the administration had completed all preparations for the portal launch, which will serve as a single-window platform for startup registration and accessing policy benefits. “The Industries Department has prepared the portal and is ready to launch. The portal will enable startups to apply for various incentives and facilities announced under the Startup Policy, which is aimed at creating a thriving startup ecosystem in the city by offering financial support, incubation assistance and tax exemptions.

For effective implementation, the HPC, chaired by the Chief Secretary, will guide strategic decisions, monitor progress and amend the policy if needed. The Policy Monitoring and Implementation Committee (PMIC), chaired by the Secretary, Industries, will be responsible for operational approvals, disbursement of incentives and monitoring activities.

The administration has earmarked an annual corpus of Rs 10 crore for the effective implementation of the policy for the next five years. The policy also mandates annual government startup festivals to encourage innovation and youth participation. The startup status will cease after 10-years or once a company crosses an annual turnover of ?100 crore. Complaints and fraud cases will be examined by a high-level committee.

The administration aims to position Chandigarh as a leading innovation-driven startup ecosystem nurturing entrepreneurship, promoting R&D and driving inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

The policy has been designed to enable the creation and growth of over 200 startups over the next five years, promote a culture of research, innovation and entrepreneurship among youth, women, transgenders and underrepresented groups. It is also aimed at facilitating access to funding, incubation, mentorship and infrastructure for startups across various stages of their lifecycle — from ideation to commercialisation — and strengthening incubators and academic institutions, driving synergy between industry and academia for fostering innovation.