The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is a central government department under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India. It is an institution responsible for formulating and implementing promotional and developmental measures for the growth of the industrial sector and internal trade. The department was originally established in 1995 as the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP). It was reconstituted in 2000 with the merger of the Department of Industrial Development. The problem it was created to solve was to serve as a strategic unit for the promotion of industrial development and to create a conducive environment for businesses to thrive in India.
The DIPP was renamed to DPIIT on January 27, 2019, when the mandate for internal trade was added to its responsibilities. DPIIT works by formulating the overall industrial policy, facilitating Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows, and promoting the Ease of Doing Business in India. Key mechanisms include overseeing the Startup India initiative, which provides recognition and benefits to eligible startups, and the Make in India program, which aims to transform India into a global manufacturing hub. It is also the nodal department for the administration of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), including patents, designs, and trademarks.
DPIIT connects to related concepts like Invest India, the national investment and facilitation agency, and major initiatives like the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan and the National Logistics Policy. Recently, the DPIIT has amended the startup recognition framework, notably with a February 4, 2026, Gazette Notification that formally recognizes Deep Tech Startups. This change extends the recognition period for Deep Tech entities to 20 years from the date of incorporation, compared to 10 years for regular startups, and raises their turnover threshold to ₹300 crore. The new framework also includes Multi-State Cooperative Societies and State Cooperative Societies in the definition of eligible startups.