The Chandigarh Administration on January 01, 2026, notified the Operational Guidelines of Chandigarh Start-up Policy, 2025.
These Operational Guidelines are issued to facilitate the effective implementation of the Chandigarh Startup Policy 2025 notified and executed by the Department of Industries, Chandigarh Administration in April 2025. The Policy aims to transform the Union Territory into a leading innovation-driven startup ecosystem. These guidelines provide detailed procedures, eligibility conditions, application and approval processes, fund disbursement mechanisms, and monitoring frameworks to ensure transparency, accountability, and ease of access for all stakeholders including startups, incubators, government departments, and service providers.
The guidelines shall remain in force throughout the validity of the Policy, i.e., for a period of five years from the date of its notification and may be amended or revised by the High-Powered Committee (HPC) as necessary.
All startups and incubators seeking benefits under the Policy must apply through the Start-In-Chandigarh Portal by completing online registration, selecting the relevant scheme, linking with a recognised parent incubator (for startups), and uploading required documents. Applications are initially scrutinized by the Startup Cell, with deficiencies to be rectified within 15 days, failing which applications are deemed withdrawn. Eligible applications are evaluated quarterly by the Project Monitoring & Implementation Committee (PMIC), which approves or rejects them based on merit, feasibility, ranking under standard evaluation criteria, and availability of funds. Only startups registered on the Portal with a unique ID are eligible, and all incentives must be applied for within the policy period. Grants are disbursed on a first-come, first-serve basis subject to fund availability and actual expenditure, routed through the parent incubator to the startup’s verified account. Startups must disclose any concurrent remunerative engagements, and incentives may be recovered if misused or if unethical practices are identified. Availability of funds alone does not guarantee approval under the Policy.
[Notification No. 58986-HIII(2)-2025/17514]
