“Innovation is the true engine of economic and social transformation,” declared Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma at the state’s recent Innovation Day conclave. With a distribution of over ₹10 crore to hundreds of startups, his words are being backed by decisive action.
On December 12, 2025, the Rajasthan government made a powerful statement about its commitment to becoming a technology and innovation leader. At the Innovation Day Startup Conclave in Jaipur, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma personally distributed ₹10.79 crore in funding to 333 selected startups.
This event was more than a ceremony; it was a showcase of a rapidly maturing entrepreneurial ecosystem. The conclave celebrated the success of the state’s iStart Rajasthan portal, which has now registered over 7,200 startups. These ventures have collectively attracted investments exceeding ₹1,000 crore and created more than 42,500 jobs, demonstrating significant economic traction.
The funding infusion is a catalyst for a much larger ambition: to position Rajasthan as a global tech hub and power its economy to $350 billion by 2030.
A Closer Look at the Conclave and Its Star Innovators
The Innovation Day Startup Conclave, held at the Rajasthan International Centre, served as a vibrant platform for the state’s entrepreneurial talent. The event featured startup exhibitions, founder talks, and the launch of the Rajasthan DigiFest Hackathon.
One standout story from the day was Eco Bharat, a Bikaner-based startup focused on road safety. Named one of Rajasthan’s Top 10 startups, Eco Bharat received a ₹10 lakh grant. The company addresses India’s critical road accident problem—which claims an average of 474 lives daily—through smart QR code stickers. These stickers enable instant alerts to ambulances and police without compromising privacy and have seen adoption in 26 states.
The iStart Engine: Powering Inclusive and Diverse Growth
The 333 funded startups are part of a broader, inclusive ecosystem nurtured by the iStart portal. A key strength of Rajasthan’s startup landscape is its diversity:
- Women-Led Leadership: More than 2,600 of the registered startups are led by women, highlighting a significant shift towards inclusive entrepreneurship.
- Student Innovators: The portal also supports 288 ventures run by students, fostering an innovation mindset from an early age.
- State-Wide Reach: While the conclave was in Jaipur, the government’s efforts extend across the state. In a parallel initiative, 50 “Vikas Rath” (development chariots) were flagged off to travel to all Assembly constituencies, promoting awareness of government schemes, including those supporting startups and innovation.
Beyond the Grant: Rajasthan’s Comprehensive Startup Blueprint
The ₹10.79 crore distribution is one piece of a multi-faceted strategy to build a sustainable innovation economy. The state’s approach combines immediate funding with long-term infrastructure, skill development, and global connectivity.
🚀 For Startups: A Supportive Policy Framework
Rajasthan offers a structured policy framework to help startups at various stages. While some details of the 2015-2020 policy remain accessible, the active ecosystem support is evident. Current initiatives provide crucial early-stage support, including sustenance allowances for innovators and marketing grants to help ventures launch their products.
🌐 Rajasthan DigiFest 2026: The Gateway to Global Networks
Looking ahead, the government announced a ₹15 crore allocation for the Rajasthan DigiFest, scheduled for January 2026 in collaboration with the TiE Global Summit. This flagship event is designed to be a massive convergence point, expecting:
The DigiFest, alongside its associated 30-hour national hackathon, aims to connect Rajasthan’s talent with global trends, mentors, and capital.
🛠️ Building Capacity: Skills and Specialized Sectors
Recognizing that ideas need skilled executors, the state is investing heavily in human capital:
- Advanced Skilling: Three Centres for Advanced Skilling are being established with a goal to train 1.5 lakh youth over two years under the State Skill Policy.
- Sector-Focused Policies: New initiatives like the Atal Innovation Studio and Accelerator and the AVGC-XR policy (for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality) are creating pathways in emerging technologies.
- Job Creation Targets: The government has set an ambitious target of four lakh government jobs over five years, with 92,000 already filled and 20,000 more slated for December 2025. Additionally, it has facilitated over 2.5 lakh jobs in the private sector.
The Larger Economic Vision: From Startup Hub to $350 Billion Economy
The startup push is strategically linked to Rajasthan’s overarching economic goals. The state is targeting a $350 billion economy by 2030 and is leveraging its natural and industrial strengths.
Key sectors identified for growth include renewable energy, tourism, mining, automobiles, and textiles. The startup ecosystem is seen as a driver for innovation across these traditional and emerging industries.
This focus is attracting large-scale investment. The recent “Rising Rajasthan” Global Investment Summit secured Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) worth a staggering ₹35 lakh crore, with projects worth ₹8 lakh crore already in progress. A follow-up “Rising Rajasthan” Partnership Conclave is scheduled for December 2025 to deepen these industrial collaborations.
Conclusion: A State Betting Big on Its Innovative Future
Rajasthan’s disbursement of ₹10.79 crore to 333 startups is a significant milestone, but it is fundamentally a down payment on a much larger vision. The state is systematically building an innovation-led economy by combining direct grant funding, a supportive policy environment, large-scale skill development, and global market access through events like DigiFest.
For entrepreneurs across India, the message is clear: Rajasthan is actively investing to become a leading startup powerhouse. As IT Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore stated, if innovation is the biggest engine of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India), “Rajasthan will be its turbocharger”.
Rajasthan’s startup push shows how focused funding, strong policy support, and skill building can turn regional ideas into national impact. This move clearly positions the state as a serious contender in India’s technology and innovation growth story.
Rajasthan’s strong backing of startups highlights how smart funding, clear policies, and skill development can scale local ideas across India. The state is steadily emerging as a key player in the country’s technology and innovation landscape.
The startup movement in Rajasthan demonstrates how targeted finance, robust policy support, and talent development can transform local ideas into national influence. With this action, the state is undoubtedly positioned as a major player in India’s story of technological and innovative growth.