Sikkim Government Honoured with “Emerging Leader” Award on National Startup Day 2026 Wins National Startup Recognition for the first time
On the occasion of National Startup Day 2026, marking 10 years of the Startup India movement (2016–2026), the Government of Sikkim was conferred the prestigious “Emerging Leader” Award, making it the first time the State has received a national-level recognition under the Startup India framework. The award acknowledges Sikkim’s growing leadership and steadfast commitment towards fostering a vibrant startup and innovation ecosystem.
The award ceremony was held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, and was graced by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, and the Hon’ble Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal.
The award was received on behalf of the Government of Sikkim by Ms. Karma Youtso, Secretary, Commerce & Industries, along with Ms. Choden Gyatso, Special Secretary, Commerce & Industries, who represented the State at this national-level event.
In addition to the State honour, Certificates of Commendation were also conferred in recognition of individual contributions towards strengthening the startup and MSME ecosystem in Sikkim. The certificates were awarded to Ms. Karma D. Youtso, Secretary, Commerce & Industries Dept. Govt. of Sikkim, Ms. Choden Gyatso, Special Secretary-cum-Director, Commerce & Industries Dept. Govt. of Sikkim, and Mr. Ravi Kumar, Director, MSME, Commerce & Industries Dept. Govt. of Sikkim.
The “Emerging Leader” category recognises states that have demonstrated significant progress in enabling startups through forward-looking policies, robust institutional support, entrepreneurship promotion, and innovation-driven initiatives. Sikkim’s recognition—its first national startup award—highlights the State’s sustained efforts in nurturing local entrepreneurs, supporting early-stage ventures, and creating an enabling environment for sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
Speaking on the occasion, officials from the Department of Commerce & Industries reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to further strengthening the startup ecosystem in Sikkim through targeted policy interventions, incubation support, improved access to finance, and enhanced collaboration with academic institutions and industry partners.
A key pillar of the State’s entrepreneurship drive is the “One Family One Entrepreneur” initiative, which aims to foster self-reliance by supporting one entrepreneur in every family. The initiative offers subsidies and interest subventions for MSMEs across sectors such as Innovation & Technology, service sectors, Manufacturing, Food processing, Tourism, and Allied activities, etc. thereby creating a vibrant economic ecosystem and empowering youth and women towards self-sufficiency.
In addition, under the ongoing Sikkim INSPIRES Programme, supported by the World Bank, the Department of Commerce & Industries is actively developing a robust entrepreneurship ecosystem in the State. As part of this initiative, an Innovation Hub at the State level and four Incubation Centres across districts are being established. Further, District Industries Centres are being upgraded and their staff capacitated to play a catalytic role in promoting startups and accelerating the State’s economic growth.
This recognition, coinciding with the decade-long milestone of Startup India (2016–2026), marks an important moment for Sikkim and reinforces the State’s emergence as a hub for innovation-led and inclusive development in the Northeastern region of India.
