Piyush Goyal, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, recently unveiled the Bharat Startup Knowledge Access Registry (BHASKAR) portal for startups in India. The name BHASKAR has been chosen as it means “rising sun” synonymous with the proliferation of the startup ecosystem in the country. The platform aims at being an aggregator for the entire startup ecosystem in India. “BHASKAR as a concept will try to integrate all the people who are dreamers, doers and disruptors. BHASKAR will enable collaboration, cooperation and competition among entrepreneurs,” said Piyush Goyal while launching the platform.
BHASKAR, as a platform has been conceptualised and executed by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The platform has been designed to centralize, streamline, and enhance collaboration among key stakeholders within the entrepreneurial ecosystem, including 1,46,000 DPIIT-recognized startups, investors, mentors, service providers, and government bodies. BHASKAR also aims at being the world’s largest digital registry for stakeholders within the startup ecosystem.
Amardeep Singh Bhatia, Secretary, DPII, during the launch of the platform said: “This unique initiative is a laudatory step further calling for concerted efforts from the entire startup ecosystem. This will cohesively propel the Indian startup ecosystem as the flag bearer amongst its peers across the globe. The Bharat Startup Knowledge Access Registry will act as a catalyst for innovation and will foster greater connectivity between startups, particularly in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, ensuring that innovation is inclusive, and opportunities are accessible to all. This will enable regional startups to collaborate, grow, and contribute to the nation’s economic progress.”
Salient Features of the BHASKAR Portal
Some of the important features and objectives of the platform are as follows:
- The platform aims to create opportunities for cross-collaboration by bringing together stakeholders from different sectors, industries, technologies, and regions.
- Startups will be able to network by connecting and collaborating with like-minded people through personalised dashboards and peer-to-peer connect features.
- Startups can enhance their visibility by using profile cards.
- Every stakeholder of the BHASKAR platform will be given a personalised BHASKAR ID that will be tied to their profile for a personalised dashboard.
- BHASKAR aims at working as the central one-stop digital platform that will house the ever-evolving startup ecosystem stakeholders under one single roof, making it the largest digital registry of the startup ecosystem in the world in the coming times.
“”By providing comprehensive access to resources, BHASKAR will serve as the guiding light for startup ecosystem stakeholders to navigate challenges and unlock opportunities in today’s dynamic market. We believe that knowledge is power, and through BHASKAR, we are ensuring that every Indian startup, regardless of size or location, has access to the resources that can fuel their growth,” added Amardeep Singh Bhatia.
