National Startup Awards Statistics: Applications and Winners by Edition
· 1 min read · 3 official sources
The National Startup Awards drew 3,163 startup applications for NSA 5.0, up from 1,641 in the first edition in 2020, according to the Startup India portal. NSA 2021 named 46 startup winners from 2,177 applications. Edition-wise applications, winners and finalists from official sources are below.
National Startup Awards: key numbers
Infographic
Startup applications by edition
Startup applications received for each edition of the National Startup Awards, as listed on the Startup India NSA page (viewed 18 October 2026).
| Edition | Startup applications |
|---|---|
| NSA 2020 | 1641 |
| NSA 2021 | 2177 |
| NSA 2022 | 2604 |
| NSA 2023 | 2335 |
| NSA 5.0 | 3163 |
Source: startupindia.gov.in, as on 18 October 2026
Ecosystem enabler applications (2020 to 2022)
Applications from incubators and accelerators in the editions that had ecosystem enabler categories, from the Startup India NSA page.
| Edition | Incubator applications | Accelerator applications |
|---|---|---|
| NSA 2020 | 30 | 9 |
| NSA 2021 | 53 | 6 |
| NSA 2022 | 55 | 7 |
Source: startupindia.gov.in, as on 18 October 2026
How the National Startup Awards are decided
What the numbers show
The National Startup Awards are given by DPIIT to startups and ecosystem enablers for innovation and impact. According to the Startup India NSA page, the fifth edition, NSA 5.0, received 3,163 startup applications across 20 categories, the highest so far. The first edition in 2020 received 1,641 applications, from which 192 finalists and 36 winners were chosen.
The trend across editions
Applications rose from 1,641 in 2020 to 2,177 in 2021 and 2,604 in 2022. They dipped to 2,335 in 2023, when awards were given in 19 categories, before reaching 3,163 for NSA 5.0. A PIB release of 15 January 2022 says NSA 2021 named 46 startup winners, plus one incubator and one accelerator, and that the 2,177 applicants included 863 women-led startups and 253 startups working in rural areas.
By January 2023 the first two editions together had recognised 367 startups as winners and finalists, according to PIB.
Ecosystem enablers
The 2020, 2021 and 2022 editions also invited incubators and accelerators. Incubator applications grew from 30 in 2020 to 53 in 2021 and 55 in 2022, while accelerator applications stayed in single digits.
What the figures do not tell you
Application counts show interest, not quality or outcomes. The official pages do not give winner counts for every edition in the same format, so the number of winners in NSA 2022, 2023 and 5.0 is not shown here. The Startup India page also does not date each edition's figures, so the edition-wise table is shown as on the date it was read.
Where to check for updates
Results and edition reports are published on the Startup India portal, and DPIIT announces winners through PIB, usually in January.
Frequently asked questions
How many startups apply for the National Startup Awards?
NSA 5.0 received 3,163 startup applications, the most of any edition, according to the Startup India NSA page. The first edition in 2020 received 1,641.
How many startups won the National Startup Awards 2021?
46 startups were named winners of NSA 2021, along with 1 incubator and 1 accelerator, according to a PIB release of 15 January 2022. There were 2,177 startup applications.
How many winners and finalists have there been?
PIB said in January 2023 that the 2020 and 2021 editions recognised 367 startups as winners and finalists. NSA 2020 alone had 192 finalists and 36 winners.
Did applications fall in 2023?
Yes. NSA 2023 received 2,335 startup applications, fewer than the 2,604 for NSA 2022. Applications then rose to 3,163 for NSA 5.0.
Who runs the National Startup Awards?
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry runs the awards through Startup India.
Eligibility, documents and how to apply: National Startup Awards full guide
Charts, data files and the infographic are free to download, share and embed with a link back to this page.
Sources
This guide was checked against these official pages:
- startupindia.gov.in (www.startupindia.gov.in/content/sih/en/nsa-landing.html)
- pib.gov.in (www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1790183)
- pib.gov.in (www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1891070)