JK registers 1,270 startups under new policy
Seed funding reaches 18 ventures; no units set up under YSLS, SCFS, NMDFC schemes in 3 years
Our Special Correspondent
Srinagar: The Government on Tuesday told the Legislative Assembly that 1,270 startups have been registered with the Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) since the launch of the J&K Startup Policy 2024-27, reflecting a growing shift of youth towards entrepreneurship in the Union Territory.
The information was given in reply to a question raised by MLA Shabir Ahmad Kullay.
According to the government, startup registrations have increased significantly over the past three financial years. While 198 startups were registered in 2023-24 and 293 in 2024-25, as many as 779 startups have been registered in 2025-26 till January 31, 2026, taking the cumulative number to 1,270.
To promote the startup ecosystem, the government said several support activities were conducted across the UT. Over the last three years, 11 mentoring sessions, 43 boot camps and four venture capital or equity funding rounds were organised to guide aspiring entrepreneurs and help them build viable businesses.
The House was also informed that financial assistance to startups has begun only in the current financial year. No seed capital was provided during 2023-24 and 2024-25. However, in 2025-26, 18 startups were sanctioned seed capital assistance of Rs 20 lakh each. Out of this, Rs 5 lakh per startup, totalling Rs 90 lakh, has already been released.
At the same time, the government acknowledged that no units have been established during the last three years under the Youth Startup Loan Scheme (YSLS), Seed Capital Fund Scheme (SCFS) and National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) scheme, and therefore no employment generation has been recorded under these schemes.
On strengthening entrepreneurship infrastructure, the government informed the Assembly that the Ministry of MSME, Government of India, has sanctioned Rs 291.12 lakh to JKEDI for augmentation of training facilities at the district level. The project includes establishment of mini smart classrooms under the Assistance to Training Institute (ATI) component.
The procurement process has been initiated through the GeM portal after technical specifications were vetted by the Information Technology Department and IIT Jammu.
The government said the initiative aims to provide training, mentorship and financial access to young entrepreneurs and position self-employment as a sustainable alternative to government jobs in Jammu and Kashmir.
