About the DPIIT Eligibility
This checker screens your business for DPIIT startup recognition eligibility in five questions. Answer Yes or No on entity type, age, turnover, originality and innovation, and the tool tells you whether you appear eligible for Startup India recognition or lists exactly which conditions are blocking you, with the reason for each.
It is meant for founders of private limited companies, LLPs and registered partnership firms who are considering recognition, and for the advisers who support them. Recognition is the gateway to benefits such as the Section 80-IAC tax holiday, the Startup India Seed Fund and the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups, each of which has its own further conditions.
All five conditions must be met. The entity must be a private limited company, LLP or registered partnership; be less than ten years old; have kept turnover under ₹100 crore in every financial year; be an original business rather than a split or reconstruction; and work on innovation, improvement or a scalable model.
How to use it
- 1Answer Yes or No to each of the five questions; the note under each question explains why it matters.
- 2Once all five are answered, read the verdict: either you appear eligible, or the blocking conditions are listed.
- 3If you appear eligible, apply for recognition on the Startup India portal and use the linked calculator to estimate your 80-IAC tax saving.
Frequently asked questions
What are the conditions for DPIIT startup recognition eligibility?
Going by the five conditions this checker screens, the entity must be a private limited company, LLP or registered partnership firm, be less than ten years old, have had turnover below ₹100 crore in every financial year, not be formed by splitting or reconstructing an existing business, and be working on innovation, improvement or a scalable business model.
Can a sole proprietorship get DPIIT recognition?
No. The checker treats a proprietorship as ineligible because recognition is open only to private limited companies, LLPs and registered partnership firms. A proprietor who wants recognition would first need to move the business into one of these structures. Take professional advice on the tax and compliance effects before converting.
Is there a fee for DPIIT recognition?
The tool notes that the application is free and made online through the Startup India portal. You need your incorporation or registration details and a short write-up on what is innovative or scalable about the business. Professional help with preparing the application is optional and is charged separately by whoever provides it.
Does DPIIT recognition automatically give me the 80-IAC tax holiday?
No. Recognition is the first step. The Section 80-IAC income-tax deduction needs a separate application and approval, is open only to companies and LLPs, and has its own conditions on incorporation date. If this checker shows you as eligible, use the linked tax calculator to estimate the possible saving.
What does the checker mean by innovation or a scalable model?
The fifth question asks whether the business involves innovation, improvement of a product, process or service, or a scalable business model. As the tool notes, plain trading or routine services rarely qualify. In the application, explain clearly what is new or better about your offering and how it can grow.
What should I do if one of my answers is No?
The checker shows how many conditions are blocking you and why. Some can be fixed — for instance, converting a proprietorship into an LLP or company. Others, such as the ten-year age limit or the ₹100 crore turnover ceiling, cannot. The final decision always rests with DPIIT, so treat the result as an indicative screen.