Punjab Newsline.Chandigarh :
Punjab receives ‘Top Performer’ status for the second consecutive time; honoured on National Startup Day
Punjab has once again secured a leading position in the Government of India’s State Startup Ecosystem Ranking, earning the ‘Top Performer’ status for the second consecutive time. The ranking has been released under the fifth edition of the State Startup Ecosystem Ranking by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora said that this achievement reflects Punjab’s consistent efforts to strengthen its startup and innovation ecosystem.
On the occasion of National Startup Day, a certificate of appreciation was awarded to the Punjab Government’s Department of Industries and Commerce at a समारोह held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, in the presence of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India. Sanjeev Arora stated that receiving this recognition for the second consecutive time is clear evidence of Punjab’s focused and sustained approach towards building a strong, inclusive and innovation-driven startup ecosystem.
He highlighted that the state’s performance is the result of progressive startup policies, a robust institutional framework, strong incubation and acceleration support, improved access to finance, capacity-building initiatives, mentoring and advisory mechanisms, and reforms aimed at enhancing ease of doing business.
The minister further said that under the visionary leadership of the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Punjab has created a conducive environment for startups, especially for youth and entrepreneurs from non-business backgrounds. He reiterated that the government will continue to strengthen policy support, incubation infrastructure and market access to establish Punjab as a preferred destination for startups and investors.
Sanjeev Arora added that the evaluation was carried out on key parameters such as startup policy implementation, institutional support systems, incubation infrastructure, funding mechanisms, capacity building, mentoring and facilitation of market linkages. Reaffirming the government’s commitment, he emphasized that Punjab will continue to focus on innovation-led economic growth, employment generation and technology-driven progress, ensuring the state’s economic transformation by placing startups at the core of its development strategy.