News Summary

India has unveiled a new $1.15 billion Fund of Funds aimed at supporting startups, as part of broader economic initiatives to boost technology innovation and clean energy. This announcement came alongside the introduction of sweeping regulatory reforms, as detailed in the federal budget for 2025-26 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The new fund expands upon earlier startup funding programs, with plans to establish a High-Level Committee for Regulatory Reforms to review non-financial sector regulations, aiming to ease compliance for startups. Additionally, there is a proposal for a separate Deep Tech Fund of Funds to support next-generation startups in advanced technology sectors. The government also announced tax benefits for startups and a new scheme targeting 500,000 first-time entrepreneurs, particularly women and marginalized groups, offering term loans over the next five years. These measures underscore India’s commitment to fostering a vibrant startup ecosystem, which has already attracted significant investment from global venture capitalists and is crucial for economic growth.