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Chandigarh administration finalises working guidelines for start-up policy

Chandigarh Deputy Commissioner Nishant Yadav while speaking to The Indian Express said that they are awaiting final go-ahead from the UT Chief Secretary.

In April this year the Chandigarh start-up policy was rolled out. (File Photo)

Six months after the Chandigarh Administration released the start-up policy, it finalised the working guidelines, which are required for availing subsidies.

Chandigarh Deputy Commissioner Nishant Yadav while speaking to The Indian Express said that they are awaiting final go-ahead from the UT Chief Secretary. “The working guidelines have been finalised. Within a week they will be notified,” Yadav said.

Another official added that as per the norms, the eligible start-ups must be recognised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and must have their office located within Chandigarh. After the eligible start-up applicant submits an application, the Policy Monitoring and Implementation Committee (PMIC) will examine and decide it. If the committee finds no discrepancies in eligibility, approval will be granted within 15 days.

“In case of any requirements, start-ups will be asked to fulfil the eligibility criteria within the same 15-day window. Although applications will be accepted throughout the year, the PMIC will convene only once every quarter,” it was added.

In April this year the Chandigarh start-up policy was rolled out. In 2018, Chandigarh began drafting the policy two years after Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the Startup India initiative. While unveiling the policy, he had directed UTs and states to frame their own policies which are designed as per the needs of the entrepreneurs in their regions. However, Chandigarh had missed several deadlines since then.

Hina Rohtaki

Hina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. She is one of the most prominent journalists covering the Chandigarh Administration, civic issues, and the unique political status of the Union Territory. Professional Background Experience: She has been in the field for over a decade and is known for her investigative reporting on administrative waste and urban governance. Awards: She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, which was presented to her by the President of India in January 2020. She was also awarded the Jethmalani prize (The Will of Steel Awards) in 2025 in the Empowerment category for a series of articles that highlighted the struggles of Covid widows. Core Beat: Her primary focus is the Chandigarh administrative structure, the Union Territory's financial management, and urban development projects. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent work highlights a focus on government accountability, administrative expenditures, and civic trends: 1. Investigative & Financial Reporting "Fuelling power: Senior UT IAS officers guzzled petrol worth Rs 30 lakh in 2 yrs" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative report detailing the high fuel bills of top bureaucrats, including the Finance Secretary and Chief Secretary’s staff. "Admn spends Rs 1.5 crore on dismantling road railings and fixing again after increasing height" (Dec 8, 2025): Highlighting administrative waste on "non-viable" solutions for pedestrian control. "Chandigarh’s finances under ministry’s watch now" (Nov 27, 2025): Reporting on the new requirement for MHA approval for all new projects in the UT. 2. Governance & Constitutional Status "What will it mean for Chandigarh if it is brought under Article 240?" (Nov 24, 2025): An "Explained" piece on the potential constitutional shift that would grant the President more power over the UT's governance. "MP Manish Tewari moves Bill seeking directly elected Mayor with 5-year tenure" (Dec 6, 2025): Covering the legislative push to reform Chandigarh's municipal leadership structure. "No proposal to increase Mayor's term in Chandigarh by 5 years: Centre" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on the Union government's response to demands for a longer mayoral term. 3. Urban Infrastructure & Environment "Chandigarh admn cuts power to India's tallest air purifier, asks firm to dismantle it" (Nov 17, 2025): A critical report on the failure of a high-cost environmental project deemed "of no use" by experts. "UT rethinks 24/7 water supply project as costs soar" (Nov 26, 2025): Detailing the financial challenges and delays in modernizing the city's water network. "Centre 'obfuscating, covering up' MC's shifting deadlines for clearing Dadu Majra dump" (Dec 12, 2025): Reporting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the city's major waste dump. 4. Lifestyle & Local Trends "Chandigarh turns into a Thar city as women fuel the surge" (Dec 2, 2025): A feature on a unique automotive trend in the city, with a record 600 registrations by women drivers this year. "After fivefold spike in 2023, EV sales struggle to pick pace in Chandigarh" (Dec 2, 2025): Analyzing the slowdown in electric vehicle adoption despite previous surges. Signature Beat Hina is known for her meticulous tracking of RTI (Right to Information) data to expose administrative inefficiency. Her "Ground Zero" reporting on the Dadu Majra garbage dump and her scrutiny of the Chandigarh Smart City projects have made her a key figure in the city’s civil society discourse. X (Twitter): @HinaRohtaki ... Read More

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