The Economic Survey 2024-25, tabled by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, has highlighted key reforms aimed at boosting India’s startup ecosystem, including the abolition of angel tax, expanded safe harbour rules, and streamlined transfer pricing assessments.

These measures, alongside tax reductions for e-commerce and data centre exports, are expected to enhance India’s global competitiveness, attract more investments, and ease business operations for startups across industries, the survey mentioned.

Women entrepreneurship has seen significant growth. As of October 31, 2024, a total of 73,151 startups with at least one-woman director have been recognised under the Startup India Initiative. This represents nearly half of the 1,52,139 startups supported by the government, the survey showed.

Government initiatives like the Start-up India Seed Fund Scheme and the Credit Guarantee Scheme have provided crucial financial support, with over ₹3,100 crore invested in women-led startups.

According to the survey, women entrepreneurs receive 90% guarantees (vs. 75% for others) and reduced fees under the CGSS. Furthermore, of 97.68 lakh guarantees approved under the scheme, 22% are for women – totalling ₹24.6 crore in loans.

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In fact, as much as ₹3,107.11 crore has been invested in 149 women-led startups through Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs).

However, women still face barriers, with only 22% of MSMEs owned by women, and initiatives such as the Women Entrepreneurship Platform and WE Hub are helping bridge these gaps, fostering a more inclusive and empowering environment for women entrepreneurs. The survey highlighted that the program has raised ₹177 crore in funding, while 6376 start-ups and SMEs have been incubated. It has also engaged around 7,828 entrepreneurs and has launched 87 startup programmes.

The Economic Survey 2025 has also highlighted the growing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) warning that its benefits come with significant risks. The incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) into India’s labour market will improve workforce quality, increase productivity, and generate jobs, the report added.

The Economic Survey says, ” The integration of AI into India’s labour market presents an opportunity to enhance productivity, elevate workforce quality and create employment, provided systemic challenges are effectively addressed through robust institutional frameworks.”

The survey highlighted that the adoption of AI into the labour market will support economic growth. In addition, the survey said that integration will improve the labour market outcomes.

As per the survey, the corporate sector needs to be more sensitive and socially responsible in deploying artificial intelligence (AI), according to the annual economic survey. The rapid advances made on the AI front has raised fears among the workforce of job losses, and the economic survey acknowledges that jobs will be lost across the world, the impact will be felt keenly in India. “…the problem is magnified for India, given its size and its relatively low per capita income,” the report states.

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