Explained: Maharashtra's Startup, Entrepreneurship And Innovation Policy 2025

Maharashtra has rolled out a new Startup, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Policy, 2025, which aims to establish 50,000 startups and create 1.25 lakh entrepreneurs over the next five years.

The policy, approved in a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday (5 January), plans to prioritise sectors such as agritech, semiconductors, spacetech, blockchain, biotech, and quantum computing, to place Maharashtra firmly on the global innovation map.

As of 31 May 2025, Maharashtra already leads the nation with 29,147 registered startups, accounting for 18 per cent of India’s total.

The new framework is designed to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem, with a particular emphasis on supporting women, rural innovators and young entrepreneurs.

A key highlight is the “Maha-Fund” worth Rs 500 crore, which will offer guidance, incubation, and funding to 25,000 early-stage ventures.

To ensure infrastructure reaches even grassroots levels, micro-incubators will be set up in ITIs, polytechnics, and colleges across the state.

Furthermore, regional hubs will be created in every administrative division, with focus areas such as AI, DeepTech, FinTech, MedTech, Cybersecurity, and Sustainability.

The policy also envisions a 300 acre “Maharashtra Innovation City”, where startups, corporates, academia and government institutions will collaborate on cutting-edge research and development.

Selected ventures under Maharashtra Startup Week will be able to work directly with government departments, benefitting from pilot work orders of up to Rs 25 lakh.

To drive innovation across the public sector, every state department must reserve 0.5 per cent of its annual budget for entrepreneurship and innovation.

The initiative will be implemented through the Maharashtra State Innovation Society, which will be further strengthened, with the Chief Minister heading its General Body alongside top bureaucrats and industry representatives.

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