Let’s set the stage. India is now the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world, trailing only behind the US and China. But with that scale comes a mess. Thousands of startups. Dozens of regulatory bodies. Countless investors, mentors, consultants, and service providers, all operating in parallel but not always in sync.
That’s where BHASKAR steps in.
No, it’s not another acronym you can ignore. BHASKAR stands for Bharat Startup Knowledge Access Registry, and the government wants it to be the central nervous system of India’s startup landscape. Think of it as a live, searchable map where every startup, investor, mentor, regulator, and enabler can plug in, find each other, and function with a shared context.
Here’s the thing: India’s startup ecosystem isn’t broken. It’s just fragmented. Everyone is busy building—apps, platforms, unicorns—but they’re often flying blind when it comes to connections, policies, or even locating the right support. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Startup India program, is trying to fix that with BHASKAR. It’s less about control, more about coordination.
What exactly is BHASKAR?
At its core, BHASKAR is a centralised digital registry—an online platform designed to consolidate and streamline access to everything a startup might need:
- Startups can register, showcase what they do, find investors, and access relevant schemes or benefits.
- Investors and VCs get a filtered view into emerging ventures by region, sector, or growth stage.
- Mentors and service providers can offer their expertise and connect with startups that match their domain.
- Regulators get a live dashboard of how the startup economy is evolving—and where policy might need to adapt.
This isn’t just a directory. It’s supposed to be interactive, dynamic, and smart. Think integration with APIs from various government arms like GST, MCA, SEBI, SIDBI. Over time, it could evolve into a policy lab, where data from BHASKAR guides funding, skilling programs, and tax norms.
Why now?
Because India is hitting a saturation point with scattered support systems. A startup in Bhubaneswar doesn’t get the same investor access as one in Bengaluru. A deep-tech venture may struggle to explain itself to a mentor used to D2C playbooks. And often, a startup doesn’t even know what benefits it qualifies for.
BHASKAR aims to cut through all that by making visibility and discovery frictionless. Imagine a climate-tech founder in Kochi instantly finding a mentor in Pune who’s built a similar company, or an AI firm in Jaipur being fast-tracked for a government R&D grant, just because their registry profile ticked the right boxes.
This also comes at a time when India’s startup energy is under pressure—global funding is down, unicorns are slowing, and profitability is the new buzzword. In that context, a public infrastructure play like BHASKAR isn’t just welcome—it’s necessary.
The government’s deeper game
Don’t mistake this for just an administrative tool. This is also data strategy.
By hosting a national registry, the government creates a single pane of glass into the startup economy. It helps policymakers understand which sectors are hot, where the gaps lie, and how to channel grants, ease compliance, or build new incentives.
It also acts as a trust layer. With verified profiles, digital footprints, and traceable engagements, fly-by-night entities can be weeded out. This is a big deal for global investors still hesitant about India’s less-regulated corners.
According to DPIIT insiders, BHASKAR will also help standardize policy enforcement across states. Right now, Maharashtra’s startup policy looks nothing like Gujarat’s or Assam’s. With BHASKAR, there’s a shot at harmonizing incentives, tracking impact, and avoiding duplication.
What this means for startups
If you’re an early-stage founder, BHASKAR could be your open door to discovery. The platform promises:
- Tailored scheme suggestions based on sector, stage, and location
- Visibility to investors and mentors who match your industry
- Plug-and-play compliance modules that simplify registration, taxation, or ESG alignment
- Access to shared services like legal support, branding, market entry research
And for startups already working with government agencies or filing under DPIIT for benefits like tax breaks or patent rebates, BHASKAR could soon be the single interface replacing a maze of forms and email chains.
How does this compare globally?
India’s BHASKAR feels like a hybrid between Singapore’s Startup SG Network and Israel’s Innovation Authority portal, but with a more ambitious scope. Unlike platforms that just map startups or disburse grants, BHASKAR wants to be a live ecosystem platform—a sort of digital twin of the real startup economy.
In comparison, the US has no such centralized registry. Startups operate through fragmented state-level or sector-specific hubs. China, on the other hand, has tighter control and integrated data ecosystems for startups, especially those working in AI or hardware.
If India pulls this off with the right execution, BHASKAR could become a global benchmark for public digital infrastructure supporting entrepreneurship.
Potential pitfalls
Now let’s be clear—execution is everything.
If BHASKAR turns into another clunky government portal that no one wants to use, the whole thing collapses. For it to work, it needs:
- Intuitive design and easy onboarding
- Real-time updates instead of stale data
- API integrations with private and public players (startup accelerators, incubators, tax filing services, etc.)
- Incentives to stay active on the platform, like badge systems or premium access to government events, investors, or partnerships
The team also needs to tread carefully with data privacy and commercial confidentiality. If startups fear exposing their product roadmaps or customer base, they won’t sign up.
Who’s watching this closely?
Every major Indian VC and incubator is watching this. So are accelerators like T-Hub, C-CAMP, GINSERV, and global networks like 500 Global or Techstars India. Not because it affects their current operations—but because BHASKAR could become the default sourcing and matchmaking layer for India’s startup deals.
In fact, don’t be surprised if, in a couple of years, listing on BHASKAR becomes a required step to access government tenders, public grants, or even some private funds.
So what’s next?
BHASKAR is rolling out in phases. Initially, it will onboard DPIIT-recognized startups, and then widen the net to investors, mentors, and service providers. Eventually, it might plug into IndiaStack—linking BHASKAR identities to Udyam, GST, PAN, and beyond.
We’re at an inflection point. The government isn’t just funding startups anymore. It’s trying to architect the rails they run on. BHASKAR isn’t a headline-grabbing unicorn. It’s infrastructure. And in ecosystems, infrastructure wins over time.
India’s startup future might just be shaped not by the next flashy app, but by a backend registry with an unassuming name.
If you’re building something ambitious, you might want to keep an eye on BHASKAR. It could be the one connection that changes your trajectory.
