Government launches helpline for India’s start-up businesses

A new helpline for Indian start-up firms has been launched by the government, giving them a platform to raise any business issues they might have, make suggestions, file a complaint or air grievances.

Speaking at the recent Startup Maha Kumbh event in Delhi, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal stressed that the helpline would be open to any start-up across the country.

“I am going to start a helpline desk under the ‘Startup India’ initiative. If any officer troubles you or if you want to make any suggestion regarding any changes in laws or flag a product or technology that may not fall under India’s legal ambit, you can reach out to that helpline,” he said.

The minister said that start-ups can access the helpline if they find anyone indulging in corruption or if anyone asks for bribes. “If you believe you haven’t done anything wrong and worked within the law, you can complain through the helpline,” he said.

Goyal’s announcement came days after he criticised Indian startups for overly focussing on food delivery and betting and sports apps. He compared the situation with the start-ups in China working on electric vehicles, battery tech, semiconductors and AI.

Speaking at the Startup Maha Kumbh event, Goyal questioned whether the country was content with low-paying gig jobs rather than striving for technological progress.

Calling for a focus on innovation beyond e-commerce, Goyal pointed out that there were only a limited number of deep-tech start-ups in India. “Only 1,000 start-ups in India’s deep-tech space is a disturbing situation,” he said.

According to government data, India is the world’s third-largest start-up hub, with over 100 unicorns – start-up companies valued at over $1 billion that are privately owned and not listed on a share market.

India-Australia set to deepen economic ties

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has unveiled an ambitious roadmap to deepen and diversify its trade and investment ties with India.

The report, called ‘New Roadmap for Australia’s Economic Engagement with India’, identifies nearly 50 targeted opportunities across sectors such as defence, sports, culture, space and technology.

At the launch of the report, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said that stronger economic ties with India would not only create employment for Australians but also contribute to a peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

In early April, India and Australia celebrated the third anniversary of the Economic Co-operation and Trade Agreement (Ind-Aus ECTA). Since the agreement’s implementation, bilateral trade between the two nations has expanded to $24 billion.

According to India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, trade relations have continued to grow, with Indian exports to Australia rising by 14% in the FY 2023-24, compared with FY 2022-23. The ministry further noted that this growth trajectory has persisted, with exports increasing by 4.4% between April 2024 and February 2025.

The Indian government recognises the ECTA as a key driver in enhancing trade and investment, particularly in sectors such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and agriculture, the Ministry said. Furthermore, India’s import of essential raw materials has supported industrial growth, underscoring the complementary nature of the bilateral partnership.

The comprehensive report focuses on four key sectors – clean energy, education and skills, agribusiness, and tourism – which are expected to serve as the primary engines of future growth and co-operation between the two countries.

The Australian premier emphasised that India is a critical partner as Australia seeks to diversify its trade relationships and enhance economic security. He underscored that this roadmap is essential to bolster the Australia-India partnership, which promises to create new business opportunities, generate jobs and boost prosperity for both nations.

The 2025 roadmap highlights the four high-potential sectors that are expected to drive the next phase of the Australia-India economic relationship:

• Clean energy: Leveraging Australia’s expertise in renewable energy to support India’s sustainability goals and facilitate collaborative research and investment.
• Education and skills: Strengthening academic partnerships, enhancing vocational training programs, and promoting knowledge exchange to build a future-ready workforce.
• Agribusiness: Expanding agricultural trade, improving food security, and fostering agribusiness collaborations to meet India’s increasing demand for high-quality produce.
• Tourism: Promoting cultural exchanges, simplifying visa processes, and encouraging tourism initiatives to strengthen people-to-people ties and boost economic activity.