National Startup Awards 2026: Student Innovator Award, ₹25 Lakh Prize
Got a student with a working idea, a prototype, or a small venture of their own? There’s now a national stage for it. CBSE has asked all affiliated schools to push eligible students towards the Student Innovator / Aspiring Entrepreneur Award under the National Startup Awards (NSA) 6.0, a new special category carrying a total prize pool of ₹25 lakh.
The awards are run by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. DPIIT started the National Startup Awards in 2019 to recognise innovative and impactful startups across the country. The 6th edition, NSA 6.0, was launched on 27 October 2026.
What the National Startup Awards 2026 Student Innovator Award offers
NSA 6.0 has 20 sectoral award categories and 3 special award categories. The three special ones cover Women-led Startups, Startups from the North-Eastern Region, and Student Innovators / Aspiring Entrepreneurs. Each category winner takes home ₹25 lakh.
The student award is the part that matters for schools. It is open to school and college innovators and splits into four age-based sub-categories.
| Sub-Category | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Budding Innovators | 10-14 years |
| Rising Innovator | 14-16 years |
| Young Changemakers | 16-18 years |
| Emerging Entrepreneurs | 18 years and above |
So even a Class 6 or 7 child with a genuine idea can enter. That’s the point of the youngest bracket.
How students get nominated
Unlike startups, which go through incubation centres, students follow a separate route. Their applications are routed through State and UT Startup Nodal Agencies. All 36 States and UTs take part, and each can send up to 10 nominations. The nodal agency scores every application and shortlists the strongest teams, who then reach a national platform and receive DPIIT certificates of appreciation.
Applications are scored out of 100 points: 45 for innovation, 25 for scalability, 20 for economic impact, and 10 for inclusivity and team diversity.
Key dates
| Stage | When |
|---|---|
| Applications | Oct 2026 |
| Evaluation and shortlisting | Nov 2026 |
| Sectoral Committee review | 15 December 2026 |
| National Jury pitch | 2-7 January 2027 |
| Winners announced | 16 January 2027 |
Winners are declared on National Startup Day, 16 January 2027.
Schools have been told to identify students with innovative ideas and help them through the nomination process. The detailed application and nomination process is available at https://www.startupindia.gov.in/content/sih/en/nsa2026.html. Parents and teachers with a promising young innovator at home or in class should start there and check the age sub-category first.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Question 1.: Who can apply for the National Startup Awards 2026 Student Innovator Award?
Answer: School and college innovators can apply. The award has four age-based sub-categories: Budding Innovators (10-14 years), Rising Innovator (14-16 years), Young Changemakers (16-18 years) and Emerging Entrepreneurs (18 years and above).
Question 2.: What is the prize for the Student Innovator / Aspiring Entrepreneur Award under NSA 6.0?
Answer: The Student Innovator / Aspiring Entrepreneur Award carries a total prize pool of ₹25 lakh. In NSA 6.0, each category winner receives ₹25 lakh.
Question 3.: How do students apply for the National Startup Awards 2026?
Answer: Student applications are routed through State and UT Startup Nodal Agencies, which score and shortlist them. Each State or UT can send up to 10 nominations. The detailed process is at https://www.startupindia.gov.in/content/sih/en/nsa2026.html.
Question 4.: When will the National Startup Awards 2026 winners be announced?
Answer: Winners will be announced on National Startup Day, 16 January 2027. The National Jury pitch is scheduled for 2-7 January 2027.