Maharashtra Startup, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Policy 2025 Announced

 Maharashtra Startup, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Policy 2025 Announced

Target to create 1.25 lakh entrepreneurs and launch 50,000 startups in five years

 

The Maharashtra Startup, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Policy 2025 was approved in the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The policy aims to create 1.25 lakh entrepreneurs and facilitate the launch of 50,000 startups over the next five years. This is expected to make Maharashtra the leading state in terms of the number of startups and unicorns, while also establishing the state’s identity globally in innovation and job creation.

Special incentives will be provided for startups in urban and rural areas, and those led by women and youth.

As of May 31, 2025, Maharashtra had the highest number of startups in India with 29,147 registered startups, accounting for 18% of all Indian startups. To support these enterprises, a new, time-relevant policy has been formulated to develop a robust ecosystem for innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment.

A key highlight of the policy is the Chief Minister’s “Maha-Fund”, with a corpus of ₹500 crore, aimed at providing guidance, incubation, and financial support to 25,000 early-stage entrepreneurs.

To support infrastructure needs, micro-incubators will be established in ITIs, polytechnics, and educational institutes across the state. Regional Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hubs will be set up in each administrative division focusing on areas such as AI, Deep Tech, FinTech, MedTech, Cybersecurity, and Sustainability.

A 300-acre Maharashtra Innovation City will be developed to bring together startups, corporates, academic institutions, and the government. This city will become a central hub for research and innovation.

Under the Maharashtra Startup Week, selected startups will be able to work directly with government departments and may receive pilot work orders worth up to ₹25 lakh. Financial assistance will also be provided for patent registration, product certification, and participation in domestic and international expos. A special mechanism will also be created to offer loan support to startups that secure work orders from public institutions and credible buyers.

Every state department will be mandated to allocate 0.5% of their annual budget for promoting innovation and entrepreneurship. All policy initiatives will be implemented through the Maharashtra State Innovation Society (MSInS).

The policy has been framed with the active participation of citizens, startups, educational institutions, incubators, investors, and domain experts. Based on their feedback, the policy includes components like regional incubation support, simplified incentive processes, digital literacy, and entrepreneurial skill development.

The Department of Skill Development, Employment, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation has been designated as the nodal department for the policy. Implementation of the policy will be carried out by MSInS, which will receive annual funding for this purpose. Additionally, all departments will be required to contribute 0.5% of their funds towards the promotion of innovation and entrepreneurship.

The Maharashtra State Innovation Society, established in 2017, will be strengthened for the effective implementation of the new policy. The Society will include a General Body, chaired by the Chief Minister, and a Governing Council for implementing decisions. Members of the General Body will include secretaries/principal secretaries from departments like Industry, Planning, Finance, Agriculture, Public Health, Medical Education, IT, Urban Development, Environment, Transport, School Education, Higher & Technical Education, among others. Industry associations, entrepreneurs, and experts will also be part of the governing structure.

The policy prioritizes high-potential sectors including Artificial Intelligence, FinTech, AgriTech, MedTech, Semiconductors, Cybersecurity, Biotech, SpaceTech, Blockchain, Quantum Computing, Smart Infrastructure, Mobility, and Deep Tech.

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