Maharashtra
Maharashtra Startup, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation Policy 2025
- 06 Aug 2025
- 4 min read
Why in News?
The Maharashtra state cabinet has approved the Maharashtra Startup, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation Policy 2025, aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurship across the state.
Key Points
- About: The policy focuses on creating 1.25 lakh entrepreneurs and 50,000 startups over the next five years.
- Maharashtra is already leading the country with 29,146 startups (18% of India's total), and seeks to build an even more robust ecosystem for innovation.
- Key Objectives:
- Create 1.25 lakh entrepreneurs and 50,000 startups in 5 years.
- Encourage startups led by women and youth through targeted support.
- Enhance Maharashtra's position as a leading hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.
- Financial and Infrastructure Support:
- Maha-Fund (Rs 500 crore): Financial assistance for 25,000 early-stage entrepreneurs from a pool of 5 lakh youth. This will follow a three-stage selection process and will include mentoring, incubation, and funding support.
- Maharashtra Innovation City: A 300-acre innovation hub bringing together startups, corporates, educational institutions, and the government to foster research and development.
- Departmental Innovation Fund: All state departments will be required to allocate 0.5% of their annual funds towards promoting innovation and entrepreneurship.
- Startup Week Incentives: Startups selected during the Maharashtra Startup Week will get opportunities to work directly with government departments, with pilot work orders worth up to Rs 25 lakh.
- Support for Incubators and Regional Hubs:
- Micro-incubators will be established in ITIs, polytechnics, and educational institutions across Maharashtra to ensure organized infrastructure for innovation.
- Regional innovation hubs will be set up in each administrative division to promote local entrepreneurial ecosystems.
- Financial Assistance and Recognition:
- Compensation for Patents & Certifications: Financial support for patent registration, product quality certifications, and participation in domestic and international exhibitions.
- Loan Assistance: A special mechanism will be created for startups that have secured work orders from public institutions or trusted customers.
- Implementation Agency: The policy will be executed through the Maharashtra State Innovation Society.
Key Facts About Maharashtra
- It is the most industrialised state in India and has maintained its leading position in the industrial sector in the country.
- At current prices, Maharashtra’s gross state domestic product was estimated at Rs. 49.39 trillion (USD 578.31 billion) in 2025-26.
- According to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), between October 2019-December 2024, the FDI inflow in Maharashtra stood at Rs. 6,71,863 crore (USD 85.73 billion).
- Maharashtra ranked first for the highest FDI reception.
- Maharashtra had 12 Special Economic Zones (SEZs) with valid in-principal approvals, 51 SEZs with formal approvals, and 45 SEZs with notified approvals.
- As of October 2020, the state had 37 exporting SEZs across diversified sectors, including textiles and apparel, food processing, footwear and leather products, multi-product, pharma, and IT SEZs.
