Startup hubs
Kavaratti, Agatti
Nodal agency
Department of Industries, UT of Lakshadweep
Official portal
startupindia.gov.in (central; no verified state portal)
Tracks
By Women For Good
Straight talk: No dedicated UT startup portal we could verify at review time; start with Startup India and the Department of Industries.
Lakshadweep is tiny, pristine and suddenly on the national tourism map, which makes it a rare canvas: tuna and marine value chains, high-end responsible tourism, island logistics and solar-plus-storage energy. There is no local startup apparatus to speak of, and that is the honest picture; the play is central schemes, the UT industries department and being the first credible operator in a category the islands will need either way.
Flagship support
Central Startup India stack
DPIIT recognition and central schemes apply fully; they are effectively the entire formal support layer here.
UT Industries support
The Department of Industries is the local registration and scheme-routing door.
Marine and tourism openings
Tuna value addition, dive and eco-tourism, and island energy or logistics are open first-mover categories.
Who gets extra doors opened
For women founders
Central women-entrepreneur schemes apply in full, and community-scale tourism and food enterprises suit women-led island teams.
For startups solving public problems
Fragile-ecology tourism and fisher livelihoods define the islands; ventures that protect while they earn will set the template.
Getting started in Lakshadweep
Get DPIIT recognition; treat the central stack as your foundation.
Register with the UT Department of Industries and understand entry-permit realities early.
Partner with island communities from day one; nothing operates here without them.
Official sources
Verify everything here before applying
startupindia.gov.in (central schemes)Building in Lakshadweep? Do not build alone.
Join the hub for the Starter Boost: volunteer expert consultations, curated resources and webinars, at no cost. Then use the community to find your people in Kavaratti and beyond. Founders never pay to be here.
Scheme details, amounts and eligibility change over time and by notification. This page is a plain-language starting point, not official or legal advice. Always confirm the current rules on the official portal above before applying, and if a link has moved, search the program name to find its new home.