Jammu Kashmir Government Rolls Out Startup Policy, Seed Funding and Incubation Support | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has informed the Legislative Assembly that more than 5,400 industrial establishments have been registered across Anantnag and Kulgam districts, while a series of targeted interventions, including seed funding, incubation support and mentorship programmes, are being implemented to boost entrepreneurship in the two south Kashmir districts.

Replying to a starred question by MLA Peerzada Feroze Ahmad, the Industries and Commerce Department stated that 5,109 industrial units have been registered in Anantnag district and 351 in Kulgam so far.

The department said it is undertaking sustained measures to promote entrepreneurship across all districts of the Union Territory, with specific focus on supporting startups and first-generation entrepreneurs through policy and financial assistance.

To institutionalise the support framework, the government has notified the J&K Startup Policy 2024–27 and its operational guidelines through Government Orders issued in February 2024 and June 2025. The policy provides for seed fund assistance, co-working spaces, mentorship support, acceleration programmes, networking and exposure visits, market access initiatives and startup awards.

Officials said 12 incubation centres have been established across educational institutions in the Union Territory to provide infrastructure, mentoring and handholding to emerging enterprises. These centres are located in institutions including SKUAST-K, SKUAST-J, SMVDU, NIT Srinagar, IIT Jammu, IUST, Central University of Jammu, University of Jammu, University of Kashmir and other technical institutes.

The Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) has taken up implementation of several policy interventions during the current financial year. As of January 26, 2026, a total of 1,256 startups have been registered across the Union Territory.

District-wise, 60 startups have been registered from Anantnag and nine from Kulgam.

Under the Seed Funding component, eligible startups are provided one-time financial assistance of up to Rs 20 lakh in four instalments. So far, one startup from Anantnag has been covered under this scheme.

For strengthening incubation infrastructure, the government has sanctioned a capital grant of Rs 200 lakh to selected incubators. Individual incubators have received allocations of Rs 50 lakh each to scale up facilities and services.

The department also reported extensive outreach and capacity-building efforts. A total of 43 startup boot camps have been organised, with participation of 5,405 individuals. Of these, two boot camps each were held in Anantnag and Kulgam, drawing 280 and 240 participants respectively.

Eight mentorship programmes were conducted, benefiting 548 participants.

Startups from the Union Territory also took part in national-level events such as Mahakumbh and the Bengaluru Tech Summit, where several enterprises received awards and established linkages with national organisations. Under the Annual Startup Awards, seven startups and one incubation centre were recognised. GR8 Sports of Sangam, Anantnag, was declared “Top Startup of the Year 2025” and awarded a cash prize of Rs 50,000.

Providing details of investments and employment generation, the department said that under the MSME sector, Anantnag’s registered industrial units have attracted investment of Rs 35,754 lakh and generated employment for 20,732 people. Over the last three years alone, 70 new units were registered in the district with an investment of Rs 12,180.49 lakh and employment for 881 persons.

In Kulgam, 352 units have resulted in investment of Rs 4,242.44 lakh and employment for 1,758 people. During the same period, 15 new units were established with investment of Rs 2,542.71 lakh and jobs for 244 people.

Under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), 3,747 units have been established or cases disbursed in the two districts with margin money support of Rs 7,109.18 lakh between 2023 and 2026.

Similarly, under the Rural Employment Generation Programme (REGP), 269 units were supported with margin money assistance amounting to Rs 734.4 lakh during the same period.

To widen awareness and participation, the department conducted large-scale public outreach campaigns. As many as 720 outreach programmes were organised in Anantnag and 385 in Kulgam, averaging more than two programmes per panchayat to encourage entrepreneurship at the grassroots level.

The government said these measures are aimed at strengthening the industrial ecosystem, improving access to finance and mentorship, and promoting local enterprise development in the two districts.