At the Startup Maha Kumbh event in Delhi, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced the launch of a dedicated helpline desk for Indian startups under the Startup India initiative. The goal is to offer a direct grievance redressal mechanism and a space for suggestions from startups across the country.
Goyal said the helpline would be open to all startups to:
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Report harassment by government officials
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Flag instances of corruption or bribery
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Propose legal or regulatory changes
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Raise concerns over product/tech legality or classification issues
"If any officer troubles you, or if you want to flag something about laws or tech that doesn’t fit existing rules, you can use the helpline," he explained.He added that founders who are confident they've done no wrong and have operated within the law should not hesitate to report unfair treatment.
This announcement comes just days after Goyal sparked debate with his critical remarks about the Indian startup ecosystem, especially the dominance of sectors like food delivery, betting apps, and fantasy sports. Comparing Indian startups with those in China, he questioned the depth of innovation in India and challenged entrepreneurs to aim higher.
"Do we have to make ice cream or chips? Dukaandari hi karna hai?" he asked, implying India should move beyond retail and gig-based models.
These comments received sharp criticism from industry veterans, who defended the diversity and contributions of Indian startups. Yet, Goyal stood firm, stressing the need for deep-tech growth—highlighting that only about 1,000 of India’s over 1.57 lakh recognised startups operate in the deep-tech space, which he called "disturbing."
India is currently the third-largest startup hub globally with over 100 unicorns. The new helpline is being seen as both a support mechanism and a signal that the government wants more accountability, innovation, and long-term value creation from the ecosystem.
Would you like a summary of how startup leaders reacted to his earlier comments or more details on the helpline rollout?
