Chandigarh, 16 January 2026:
Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora informed that Punjab has once again achieved a significant milestone in strengthening its startup and innovation ecosystem, with the Government of India recognising the State as a “Top Performer” for the second consecutive time in the States’ Startup Ecosystem Ranking – 5th Edition, released by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
The Certificate of Appreciation was conferred upon the Government of Punjab, Department of Industries & Commerce, on the occasion of National Startup Day, held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, in the august presence of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India.
He added that this repeated recognition reflects Punjab’s sustained and focused efforts towards building a robust, inclusive, and innovation-driven startup ecosystem. The State’s performance underscores the impact of progressive startup policies, strong institutional mechanisms, incubation and acceleration support, improved access to finance, mentorship initiatives, and ease-of-doing-business reforms implemented by the Government of Punjab.
Expressing happiness over the achievement, Shri Sanjeev Arora, Cabinet Minister for Industries & Commerce, Punjab, stated: “This consecutive recognition by the Government of India as a ‘Top Performer’ is a strong validation of Punjab’s unwavering commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation. Under the visionary leadership of the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Punjab has created a supportive ecosystem for startups, particularly for youth and first-generation entrepreneurs. The Government will continue to strengthen policy support, incubation infrastructure, and market access to make Punjab a preferred destination for startups and investors.”
The State’s performance was evaluated on key parameters including startup policy implementation, institutional support systems, incubation infrastructure, funding mechanisms, capacity building, mentorship, and market linkages, he added.
Reaffirming the Government’s commitment, the Minister Sanjeev Arora emphasised that Punjab will continue to focus on innovation-led economic growth, employment generation, and technology-driven development, ensuring that startups remain at the core of the State’s economic transformation.
