The Centre has given an official definition for what constitutes a ‘deep tech’ startup in India. A buzzword until now, the ‘deep tech’ startup, according to a gazette notification by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) made public on Thursday (February 5, 2026), is one that is primarily concerned with producing a solution based on new knowledge/ advancements in a scientific or engineering discipline.
It must spend most of its money on research and development (R&D) activities; owns or is in the process of creating significant novel intellectual property (IP) and taking steps to commercialise the same; faces extended development timelines, long gestation periods, high capital and infrastructure requirements, and carries large technical or scientific uncertainty.
A ‘startup,’ — the DPIIT says — is a company that is less than 10 years old or has a turnover less than ₹200 crore. According to the gazette notification, a deep tech company can consider itself a ‘startup’ for as long as 20 years and a turnover of upto ₹300 crore — indicating the longer runway such companies have and the time it takes to come to fruition.
Applying for certification
To be counted as a deep tech startup, companies must apply to the DPIIT for a certificate. The DPIIT is the final authority that determines whether a company qualifies as a startup or a deep tech startup. It will decide this based on “guidance” from an Inter-Ministerial Board of Certification, which includes a Joint Secretary, DPIIT (Convener); a representative from the Department of Science and Technology (DST); a representative from the Department of Biotechnology, according to the notification.
